Google SMS launches
posted Oct 7th 2004 3:12PM
How cool is this: With the new Google SMS
service, you can do basic Google queries from any SMS-capable phone (which is darn near all of them) by sending text
messages to 46645 (GOOGL). Results usually come within a minute, and are text-based only - no links or other
craziness that could screw up an SMS. So far, you can get local business listings, product prices and
comparisons, dictionary definitions, and more is planned soon (or already there and they just haven't told us about it
yet). So, for instance, enter something like "Starbucks 10016" and you'll get a response with nearest place to
get burnt-tasting, overpriced coffee. Well, near us, anyway, unless you change the "10016." Give it a go
and let us know how it works for you. So far our results have been positive.
I Just tried it, and it works.... Thus google is now and will always be my favorite search engine... but becarefull what you search through sms, I did a local pharmacy, and I got 3 msg back. So I'm paying for that, I'm glad I didn't search liquor stores lol.
I tried it it ('pizza 14607') and got three pizzerias (in two messages, e.g. $0.04) all within walking distance. I'm happy - this just makes google that much handier to have around.
I'm so glad I'm using a SideKick - flat rate text messaging. :)
I sent a message 1000 Ft. in meteres and google sent me an SMS that said "Calculation by google: 1000 feet = 304.8 Meters."
Awesome.
I have AT&T and all my incoming text messages are free so im just using up my text messages on any that are outgoing (which I have plenty of and never use up). This will definitely come in handy! =)
The remaining problem is:
If I don't know where to find a Starbucks nearby, I probably don't know the zip code where I am either. How, short of a built-in GPS, can this be solved?
Just did a search for Barnes and Noble and got the three closest ones.....I use like $10/month on directory assistance from AT&T Wireless (their 411) -- this will definitely be a good thing.
Yeah - I second that - how the heck does it work if you don't know your zip? and in some places, that's a pretty LARGE area...hmmmmmmmmmm
it sends me definitions faster than the time it takes my web browser to load.
There's no mention of how to access this service internationally, even on the international pages ( e.g. http://google.com.au/sms/ ) - a quick test from my phone with and without the international line code didn't work at all.
A shame, since there are other US-based SMS services that work from here - while the location stuff would likely be useless, it'd still be great to get things like the dictionary search.
It doesn't work with prepaid cellular (Atleast not T-Mobile To Go)..... *SOB**SOB* It sends me an SMS back that says "Prepaid service failed"...
:~(
I have Cincinnati Bell and am recieving text messages fine but I have sent 4-5 to google and haven't gotten one back.
Right now, Google SMS only works in the U.S. We're working hard to make it available when and wherever you're on the go. In the meantime, how about a little slice of heaven in Little Italy? (try 'pizza 10013')
Alternately you can type-in the city name and state (ie. Starbucks Seattle WA) and still get results. Or just ask the locales around you for the exact zip.
I went and tried it by sending "Apple Store 98105" and returned with addresses and phone numbers for the Seattle and Bellevue locations. Awesome.
This is a good combination of services. Google offers more services than a company that just released a PRwire yesterday. (www.synfonic.com) Synfonic differs from Google SMS in that Synfonic offers basic personalization; they allow you to personalize your search with input shortcuts so you don't have to type in long names for common search terms. Kinda handy when searching for restaurant names on my LG G4015.
I have Alltel and when I send the text message to 46645 i get a reply message saying... your message to 46645 was not sent. Please use only ten digit mobile numbers. Does anyone know if there is a 10 digit number to use?
It doesn't work with Virgin Mobile.
Y'day only I read about somebd offering pubs listing via location based services. If Google works fine I wont need any of them now!
Although this wasn't working for me here in NYC yesterday, today it's working just fine. Fast too.
I am in NYC and this is great. I found a sushi place two blocks from where I was buying a book on UWS. For those that don't know the zip of where they are, try just walking into a store and asking for their zipcode. Extremely high chance they'll know. On my phone, it even lets me choose the phone number of the queried place to ring...nice!
Resourceshelf who broke the news yesterday just updated its story:
...
Btw, just yesterday, Berkeley based launched an SMS-based search tool called Synfonic411 that offers directory and local business info from the Yahoo Local database.
...
Posted by Gary Price on Oct. 7, 2004
http://local.yahoo.com
http://www.synfonic.com
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/041007-244
I sent in and SMS, "define google" and it returned "currently the most important spidering search engine by far, Google is dominating the search engine market". Those funny guys...
can't get it to work--I send out a text message, nothing comes back. has anyone else gotten it to work with either cingular or in boston?
Nice - Synfonic (www.synfonic.com) had a similar service before Google. Works much better (coverage for more phones, carriers, etc).
works for me on a Sanyo 4500 through Sprint....neat service....
Doesn't seem to work on US Cellular phones
It's not working on my cingular either!!! Nooo!!! I was planning on using it in school.
I use Alltel, and it does not send the message to Google because it only sends messages to 10-digit numbers.
Actually, koffee-break has a lot of services that it offers over SMS.
http://www.koffee-break.com/sms_services.html
http://www.koffee-break.com/sms_services_help.html
Started using them since last week and find it useful.
I used Koffee-Break's services. They have a free directory service lookup for Germany, which is awesome. Also, friends of mine can send me free SMS from http://www.koffee-break.com/sms_services.html. No more international SMS costs. Thanks for recommending.
I used Koffee-Break's services. They have a free directory service lookup for Germany, which is awesome. Also, friends of mine can send me free SMS from http://www.koffee-break.com/sms_services.html. No more international SMS costs. Thanks for recommending.
sms_user_germany,
thanks for the useful tip. I used koffee-Break's SMS service in UK. I use it regularly now and its pretty good.
They really change their services rapidly. So many of them.
http://www.koffee-break.com/sms_services_help.html
For Alltel the first time change the entry mode to primary them type sms 46645. After that I was able to just type the number 46645 and it worked great.
Even better is 4INFO.net (44636). Like Google you can search restaurants, businesses, movie times over text messaging, but you can look up more using their Reply feature. Also, they have sports scores, flight updates and even horoscopes. Text the search to 44636. Better yet, do what I did and add it to your address book.
I tried it with ('bangla music, miami) and got three places where live bangla music played in the resturent. I'm glad to be a google sms user.
Way too cool GOOGLE :)
voi
http://www.mybanglamusic.com
I tried it with ('bangla music, miami) and got three places where live bangla music played in the resturent. I'm glad to be a google sms user.
Way too cool GOOGLE :)
voi
http://www.mybanglamusic.com
I just tried it using a Cingular phone in Melbourne, FL and it worked fine, even though my query "WiFi 32901" returned no results. Guess I'll have to continue to use JiWire.com to find hotspots, but for other stuff the Google SMS looks like a winner.
Open Source Project for Google SMS & Yahoo! SMS Search
The usage of SMS search mandates the need for consumers to memorize separate lists of abstract SMS short codes and numbers. To address this, Google and Yahoo provide downloadable ‘booklets’ containing their respective short codes. This unfortunately
reduces usability to enthusiasts, and discourages casual use by the general public.
An open source solution has been developed and released to address the usability issue and remove the need for the casual user to memorize separate list of SMS codes and numbers. The solution uses a widely deployed SAT (SIM Application Toolkit) application to present the SMS search engine in the form of verbose and descriptive user-friendly menus.
With USAT Front-end for Mobile Applications by Tea Vui Huang, the user is presented with options of items/categories to search for, and prompted with instructions for enquiry information as and when required. The collated information is then duly arranged within the mobile handset by the front-end, prefixed with the required short codes and formatted with the
appropriate text spacing. The search request is then sent to the respective SMS number without any involvement of the user.
Key features of USAT Front-end for Mobile Applications include:
- Open Source Initiative (OSI) Certified Open Source Software distributed under MIT License
- Users do not need to memorize lists of SMS short codes and numbers
- Users do not need to remember SMS input format / spacing requirements
- Users are prompted with full textual description of entry items that needs to be keyed in
- Support for low-end cell phones / mobile phones
- No major changes required to the system and servers of Telco / Cellco / Search Engine providers
USAT Front-end for Mobile Applications
http://sourceforge.net/projects/usatfrontend
Screenshots / Photos
http://sourceforge.net/project/screenshots.php?group_id=145904
I have tried all the sms services providers and have found that 411sms (http://www.411sms.com) is the most accurate and easiest to use. They guarantee that their service works with all cellphone carriers (for all those who complained of not being able to use this money-saving services eg prepaid, alltel, cincinnati bell, edgewireless, etc) and their 411 search is format independent. Google's format wants the city after the business while synfonic wants the city before the business only. I love 411sms because it can use either formats, in fact, they are the only ones that you can send just the business eg "pizza" to 3109043113 without the location and they will autodetect your home city. They also have features which are offered by the others but are clearly far superior. Their wifi locator is the only service (so far) that can find hotspots closest to a specific address (the others only search by zipcode) and theirs tells you if it is free (very important). I think it is great that all the service providers offer all these services for free, but if you want the BEST services, I recommend 411sms.
Services I love:
1. Directions: http://www.411sms.com/mapping.php
2. Movie Showtimes: http://www.411sms.com/movies.php
Does noone know of a 10-digit number to use to access the google service? My motorola v551 doesn't seem to like the shortcode (always wants to put in that dash) and if I enter it as googl it says 'invalid address'
Another great future like Google, where you can search by any thing and every thing
Its a rock!
Thanks
www.Gsm5.com
nice and out gorgeous