Google Launches Free 411 Service

[qnoob]

Here's a handy phone number to put into your cell phone and bypass those annoying 411 charges. From Google Labs comes GOOG-411. "To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone."

Google threw a new product called Goog-411 into Google Labs today - a free telephone based information service that could replace toll 411 calls. About 2.6 billion 411 calls are made in the U.S. each year, and it is a $7 billion/year market.

Goog-411 can be accessed by dialing 1-800-GOOG-411. The product is completely automated and there is no way to talk to a human for additional or clarifying information. You tell it your city and state, and then ask for a specific business or business category. In my tests the product was excellent. Although the voice recognition was only working at about 70% efficiency, I just said “back” and retried when it didn’t understand what I said. Results are spoken back or text messaged back to you, and you are automatically put through to the phone number requested.

link via digg

[scubasteve]

Awsome! Thanks

[scottjb]

Thanks!

Why do I have to have at least 10 characters in my message? I can't just type "Thanks!"

[scubasteve]

helps prevent spam and encourages participation.

like ppl who just post "lol" or "+1".

[MAVERICKARROGANCE]

How Innovative!! I Love It!! No More 411 Irritation!! Yay!! Myspace.com/maverickarrogance
Me The "one" And "only" ~~**clementina**~~

[Xian]

nice.

any idea how it handles multiple location businesses? like, let's say i called and asked for Officemax in Phoenix ... there's like 5 or 6 of them.

[MAVERICKARROGANCE]

Yes Is Sweet!!
Myspace.com/maverickarrogance
Me The "one" And "only" ~~**clementina**~~

[profuse007]

heres another 411 thats free. 800-373-3411

[da84tona]

this is the most amazing thing ever. thank you!

HAHAHA WHO HAS THE LAST LAUGH NOW, OVERPRICED 411 CHARGES! muahahahaha

[Bdiddle21]

Well here is the thing guys, don't mess with dialing the 411 google, just text it!!! you don't have to get annoyed by the voice recognition and you don't need a pen or anything to write it down, its in your phone!

Create a new text, send to number "466453" which is "google" on your phone. type the name or whatever you are looking for, then the city, then the state. for example, if you are on vacation and new to the area, you type "restaraunts Charleston WV" and it will send you a couple texts back with restaurants in that area......or a specific place, like pizza, papa johns, pizza hut, if you're looking for drycleaners, ANYTHING like that, its the best thing ever. I couldn't tell you how many text packs i have sold showing customers how to use that service. Also you can get sports scores and updates, by simply sending the name of the team, such as "cavs" to the same number (466453) and it will send a text back with up to second scoring when you sent it if they are playing, if not, it will tell you their last game outcome, and the time and date of the next game.

You can even translate english to whatever language you want, or vice versa. to do that, type "translate "whatever you want translated" to "whatever language you want it to be" and send, its that easy! Its alot of fun sometimes to just play around with that.

you can even get turn by turn directions with this. "from [originating address] to [destination address]. that simple, and it will text you back turn by turn directions, hope you guys find this useful.!!!