Using Google Voice Local Search

Apr 11, 2007 10:27 GMT  ·  By

Google released an interesting service that allows users to search the Internet using their phone. Basically, any US or UK resident is able to search on Google from their handheld device by dialing 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) and pronouncing their keyword. The service is currently in beta stages and part of the Google Labs but remember that every mobile operator will charge your call.

"As part of our ongoing effort to make the world's information universally accessible, we're testing a free service called Google Voice Local Search. Using this service, you get fast access to the same local information you'd find on Google Maps. But you don't need a computer, you don't need an Internet connection, and you don't even need to use your cell-phone keypad. It's voice-activated, and you can access it from any phone (mobile or landline), in any location, at any time," Google said in the description of the service.

Using this new product, you are able to search the Internet for businesses or other companies by saying a simple word such as Apple or Google. You are also able to get the search results straight on your mobile phone and take them wherever you go. This last feature of the product is somehow similar to a new function recently revealed by Yahoo through its oneSearch technology.

The new "Send to phone" ability presented straight on the Yahoo search engine results page allows users to send the results to their mobile phone and get them anywhere. As you can see, both Internet giants Google and Yahoo are trying to attract the mobile users to their products as more and more solutions are especially designed to work with handheld devices.