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story category Google SMS
Send out queries via your wireless device
(old news - 12:38PM Sunday Oct 10 2004)
tags: wireless · content
Google this week has launched a beta test of Google SMS, a new service that lets users of wireless devices query Google for specific information, such as business or residential phone listings, product prices, and word definitions, the company says. Google SMS also can be used to solve mathematical calculations, to look up area codes and zip codes, and to receive snippets of Google search engine results. Using a mobile phone or a handheld device that supports SMS (Short Messaging Service) text messaging, users can tap Google SMS through specialized queries that trigger very specific replies.

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Forums » Google SMS
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable

is google trying to be everything to everybody??

I like Google, but I'm wondering if they've taken their eye off the ball - moved their talent core into new projects at the expense of the search engine. I can't believe they haven't solved the manipulated pagerank elevation problem yet. I'm not naysaying `cause I'm not current enough on Googlisms to assert a judgement; mine is a more casual observation [slash] inquiry. I hope they don't fall into the portal pursuit.

icex _
Premium
join:2004-05-22
USA
clubs:

Hm..

TracFones dont work with it. You got to have a 10 digit number on the tracfones to call the google sms. Aint that some bull crap?
--
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digiblur
Got Sipura?
Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

Re: Hm..

said by icex _ See Profile:
TracFones dont work with it. You got to have a 10 digit number on the tracfones to call the google sms. Aint that some bull crap?

Try getting a real phone.

icex _
Premium
join:2004-05-22
USA
clubs:
·Colane Cable

Re: Hm..

Was that a sarcastic remark?

Look dude, im a diabetic, and I only use it if I need to. I don't need a fancy phone with 500 minutes.
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs:

Re: Hm..

said by icex _ See Profile:
Was that a sarcastic remark?
I don't think he was being too sarcastic..

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net

I agree

When I try to look up facts about some of the political mud slinging I find the left wing side is very good and messing with the page rankings, I mean I don't want to hear what a buffoon like Micheal Moore thinka I want to read it from someone who really knows what the facts are and from several sources. With this in mind you have your PDA and you want to check on a price at K-Mart how hard would it be for K-mart to monkey with the price rankings to give you bad information.
--
»www.gobpl.com

jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: I agree

Oh Lord in Heaven Above!! PLEASE don't let this thread degenerate into a left v. right political posturing thread!! Please, Lord, grant subsequent posters the wisdom and integrity to NOT frame every opinion about Google and the price of lemonade in the shallow context of partisan bickering. Please Lord? Why, I'll almost accept your very existence if you can pull this off!

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net


2 edits

Re: I agree

Oh please I wasn't trying to start a Left/ right flame war
I suppose I could have used a better example but you can see it. The Dianetics crowd is another good example try finding a
objective site for Scientologist's.
--
»www.gobpl.com
Brisk
Qwest's Spirit Of Service Inaction

join:2003-07-11
Colorado Springs, CO
clubs:
·Qwest.net

Nice!

I just tried it and got business location information in 2 seconds. Now I don't need to look for a phone book (non-existant at most pay phones) every time I need a location. This invention's time has come. Just 10 cents for a sent text message, not the insane $1.25 AT&T wants for 411 information.

jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: Nice!

said by Brisk See Profile:
I just tried it and got business location information in 2 seconds.
Cool. Thanks for the review. I'll have to re-consider my solemn oath to never use the text msg feature on my mobile service.

Neil
Stop All The Downloadin

join:2003-08-20
New York, NY

Re: Nice!

There's no reason not to text message, as long as you're not annoying about it (and you have your phone on vibrate) :]

Neil
Stop All The Downloadin

join:2003-08-20
New York, NY

pizza!

I've used it twice in the last few days, to find numbers of local pizza places. It only returned two results for each zip code I searched for, though, so try to be as specific as you think the system will allow.
--
idunno much about computers other than the one we got at my house my mom put a couple games on there and i play em

The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of my employer.

xmrocks
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-23
clubs:

Re: pizza!

Well, it's also in Beta, so I'm sure it'll get better over time

Now I'm gonna go try it...

winterforge
Premium
join:2000-07-23
Seattle, WA
clubs:

...

I've used it a few times for defining words, works like a charm. Very nifty Google.
t604

join:2004-09-05
Edmonton, AB

Not working in Canada

I wonder if they will ever have a Canadian number to use?... I really like this idea..
bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus


3 edits

Tried it the other day...

And it's hit or miss sometimes, which is expected during the beta period, but you have to put in your query just right to get the desired result. Putting the zip code, for example, is much more reliable that trying to use the city name.

All in all though, it makes finding addresses and phone numbers easier without having to surf the net with GPRS. The only problem is when providers charge inflated text messenging rates whether you've purchased messaging packages or not.
--
Victory Not Vengeance

Viva La Fee' Verte!

Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom

.

I think they are getting too big...MS big

I will start using other search engines. Ever since they're on the market they lost their sense for humor. Also what pisses me off is the fact that some people like seeing Google Ads

WTF??

I don't like ads in any form and even if I see something interesting I will just copy and paste URL and not go to some page via their referral link. I guess what I'm trying to say they are no longer 'cool'. They are just one more group of corporate bitches, subordinates of the almighty dollar (read shareholders).
--
anon43@gmail.com

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net

Re: .

said by Anonymous See Profile:
I think they are getting too big...MS big
This might me true, and it might take awhile but wouldn't it be nice to have another internet company large enoough to slug it out with MS.
--
»www.gobpl.com

winterforge
Premium
join:2000-07-23
Seattle, WA
clubs:


1 edit

...

Just because you are big and a corporation doesn't make you bad and evil by default. Google provides many quality services free of charge and I will continue to use them as long as they do so. Best search engine hands down, Gmail, SMS service, image searching, you name it. They don't charge for ANY of this. They even have Picasa now, the free photo organizer software. They have never asked you for a dime and provide so many great things, tell me again why you think they are bad? God forbid they put the most non-obtrusive ads on the internet on their search engine to help pay for the tons of money it costs them to run these services. Try taking some business classes and you might understand some basic ideas such as not being able to provide multiple services for free with no money source at all. Would you rather them charge you personally for some of this or have very non-obtrusive text ads? Oh and I notice you are using Gmail, I guess you'll be giving up your free e-mail account with free 1 Gig storage now because Google is a bunch of corporate bitches huh?
--
Guild Wars | winterforge

Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA

Re: ...

I have 5 gmail accounts but I don't use them. I hate ads.
Google Ads or something else it doesn't matter to me. And it maybe costs 'tons of money' but they make tons more...
--
anon43@gmail.com

jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable


1 edit
said by winterforge See Profile:
Just because you are big and a corporation doesn't make you bad and evil by default. Google provides many quality services free of charge and I will continue to use them as long as they do so.
No, it tends to make an entity sluggish and clueless. Large corps turn to so-called "evil" (in the sense of anti-consumer practices, which doesn't necessarily qualify as evil, IMO) to retain market share against smaller, more adroit companies that succeed them with better products. And by any corporate measure, Google isn't yet huge; they are mid-sized by some and downright puny by others.

My concern is their success has thus far been the vision of two people who can and do involve themselves with details of each endeavor. If Google gets large and/or very product diversified then management philosophy & practices will have to change: they will not be able to persist as the extension of the personality of a few guys.

In practice that means becoming more culturally like every other corporate entity, meaning less unique to both employees and consumers, meaning mediocre, meaning other small, fresh, & tuned-in upstarts will begin to out-pace Google's technology ideas & implementations. That is, in my opinion, how youth and maturation functions - and gave us pithy humor such as "The creative intelligence of youth will always be crushed by the tyranny of elders"

I think Google is a great company, but also that they'll stay great longer if they don't over leverage their brand-laurels and try to go portal. The page-rank issue is a real liability on their core product and was widely accepted as such late last year. That Google continues to brush aside all concern over page-rank whilst rolling out gmail and now wireless services makes me wonder if they remain savvy about search engine needs and trends.

EDIT:
BTW, what's the revenue stream intended to support the cool new directory assist via text-message?

click_310
Eat my shorts

join:2002-12-06
Savannah, GA

Re: ...

said by jap See Profile:

BTW, what's the revenue stream intended to support the cool new directory assist via text-message?

maybe a tie up with teh phone companies. Google might take 10% of the SMS charge. Cingular used to charge 10 cents / message. This service works great ... for the moment.

digiblur
Got Sipura?
Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

Nice!

I'll have to save this number in my phone book. Very nice. Glad I have unlimited text message rolled into my unlimited net access package of 7.50 a month!
frankjg7

join:2004-03-19
Bothell, WA

Accuracy?

Tried it. Sent my zip was told I lived 100 miles east of actual location.

I,ll pass.
Forums » Google SMS


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