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Google Launches SMS Search Service

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the googling-googling-everywhere dept.

jSpectre writes "Google's been busy introducing a lot of new things this week. The latest, a SMS search service. SMS a message to 46645 (googl) and find local business listings, product prices, dictionary definitions, and more. Go Google!"

8 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. I was wondering how they'd search my SMS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But it's a search VIA SMS, which makes a lot more sense.

  2. This may be king of mobile service offerings. by Negadin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This (or something like this) may be huge as people become more dependant on their mobile phones.

    No one wants to navigate some funky mobile web page looking for things like numbers, addresses or other things. People want instant information easily.

    SMS is pretty easy to understand - send a message and interpet the results. No clunky (and inconsistant) navigation problems.

    Heck - mobile mfg's (or OS designers) could put a search service into their phone that could utilize google's offerings automatically.

  3. A natural progression by saddino · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google is clearly aiming to be the information center for the connected/wired world, which makes perfect sense: after realizing that Google's value is its sheer amount of content, any service that brings people to that content is going to be pursued.

    I bet, eBay and Amazon, with similar giant demographic and e-commerce content won't be too far behind (e.g. the "price check" feature is tailor made for Amazon).

  4. So much for 411. by d3ity · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Looks like 411 just got outdated. Now I can get a phone number and address for anyone via SMS. And a text message costs what? less than 5 cents? vs a 2 dollar call to information?

  5. Yeah, but it's nothing that new really... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 3, Insightful

    People have been googling from WAP phones for years now.

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  6. Re:Not knowing what to say, I sent it 'pizza' by ornil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    One thing that's missing is the ability to find where you are. So you actually have to tell it your address. However, the phone company obviously knows where you are, and I personally wouldn't mind if it communicated this information to Google upon my request.

    For those concerned about privacy, I'd simply make it opt-in, i.e. phone company messages you the first time you do this, and asks to reply if you want to enable Google/some other guy (identified by their phone number) to see this information.
    The phone company then always attaches your address when you message this number.

  7. Doesn't SMS cost money for in/out? by brendanoconnor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I do not use my cellphone for much of anything except receiving calls and calling out. Does sending and receiving an sms cost money? If so that could add up. I mean, when I search google, sometimes I do not pick the right wording, and I get bad results, whilst other times I pick the right wording. A bad series of wording could cost me several out goings, and maybe since data has to be transmitted back, some incomings as well.

    Correct me if I am wrong but this sounds like a good way nickel and dime the SMS users. Although they did send it. Oh well.

    Brendan

  8. Froogle price checks the killer app by ewg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Froogle price checks are the killer app here.

    Standing in the middle of a retail store, you can gauge pricing versus online retailers.

    Somewhere, Alan Greenspan is smiling.

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