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View Full Version : Google Launches Free 411 Service


AlonzoMourning23
04-07-2007, 08:24 PM
How does a multi-billion dollar industry learn its business model is about to crash? When it wakes up in the morning to find Google giving away the service it charges for.

Google has a new product in Google Labs called Goog-411 - a free telephone based information service that could eventually end all 411 charges. About 2.6 billion 411 calls are made in the U.S. each year, and it is a $7 billion a year business.

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. For example, you can say "Giovanni's Pizzeria" or just "pizza".

You can get connected to the business, free of charge, and you can get the details by SMS if you’re using a mobile phone. Just say "text message".

http://www.economicpolicymonitor.com/2007/04/google-launches-free-411-service.html

Saves me the trouble of using mobile internet, or having the pay the 2 bucks to 411.

Nitrus
04-07-2007, 08:38 PM
Wow, Google are so going to become the worlds most powerful business.

lily
04-07-2007, 09:10 PM
This is going to make my life easier.....you don't know how many arguement my husband and I get into when the phone bill comes!

Labrocca
04-08-2007, 03:01 AM
Just perfect..again showing how Google understands the information age and how to bring it to the consumer.

BoogyMan
04-08-2007, 03:08 AM
Man, Google is everywhere, and setting the standard for others to follow. I love the way the article opened.

How does a multi-billion dollar industry learn its business model is about to crash? When it wakes up in the morning to find Google giving away the service it charges for.

firefox
04-09-2007, 03:53 AM
Has anyone tried this yet? How well does it work? How current is the info?

lily
04-09-2007, 09:32 PM
I was curious, so I just tried it......this computer guy isn't too bright. I have no fears that computers will someday take over the world. I suppose if you were new in town, and didn't know where the nearest doctor was, then it would be ok, as it must take in your area code and give you the closest ones to your home. Be great for ordering a pizza. Â*Â*Can't get residential, only business. If you try and spell out the name of the place, forget it!

It is worth a call, just to hear the computer voice making bleep bleeping sounds while checking, but then I've always been easily amused. It helped get the edge off of speling the name 5 times and getting one less letter every time it spelled it back.