Google began offering a free 411 service a few months ago, and I’ve used it several times - and it is cool. It’s completely voice-activated - no human interaction - and is very similar to using Google to find the phone number (or address) of a local business on your computer. The only difference is that you speak into your phone, instead of typing on your computer. It’s simple to use: just dial 800-466-4411 (which spells 800-GOOG 411), and follow the voice prompts.
Here’s an example: let’s say that I’m driving on the East side of town and want to pick up some Tony Roma’s to take home for dinner, but I don’t know the phone number. Solution: call Google! You’re prompted to say the city and state (Great Falls Montana), and then it asks you “what business name or category.” In this example, I just said “Tony Roma’s” as clearly as possible. After a 1/2-second search, Google responded, “Tony Roma’s - Marketplace Drive.” It then told me the phone number, and then asked if I wanted Google to dial the number for me (at no cost, duh). It also offered to send the information to my cell phone as a text message - which I then saved into my Contacts, and which means that I won’t have to call Google the next time I want to call Tony Roma’s.
I’ve used the service to call CMR while en-route to pick up my child, to get the number for Stageline Pizza, and for calling a local hair salon to get my daughter a last-minute appointment. Pretty nifty service!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Mark Mathson // Jun 18, 2007 at 9:03 am
This is a very cool feature from Google. I have used it many times as well.
2 Walter Greenspan // Jun 18, 2007 at 12:25 pm
There is also 800-FREE-411 (do NOT dial 800-411-FREE, as this latter number will access an “adult” site).
For many other needs, try 800-555-TELL.
800-555-TELL will give you free access to time, local weather, news update, stock market updates, sports scores, traffic updates (in place where they have traffic), etc., etc.
3 bonkrood // Jul 5, 2007 at 8:48 pm
You can also text google to get the same information.
Just send a text to GOOGL (46645) that says Tony Roma’s 59405 and it will send you the phone and address by text. I have this set up as a speed dial on my phone because I use it ALL the time.
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