14 DAY TRIAL // Users who have XHTML phones will be able to use the cell phone version of the Google Local service to find out information about stores, restaurants and other from their location.
The Google Local version for cell phones works in the same way as the web service. The user has to send a key word, the zip code of their location, and the search engine will provide a map with the nearby facilities related to the key word.
The results are displayed in groups of 10 and, if the cell phone supports, the phone number of a certain facility will be dialed by simply clicking on it.
The Google SMS service will provide directions if users request them to get to a certain location; until now, this service only provided weather, stock and movie information.
According to the company's officials, the mobile version of Google Local is destined to people who travel a lot; the service is available only in the United States and Canada and Google SMS is supported by most of the cell phone operators.
This launching comes 6 months after Yahoo introduced the searching options for the cell phones; in a short time, MSN will probably launch a similar service.