GE's latest DECT 6.0 phones feature dedicated GOOG-411 button

We've certainly seen some fairly interesting dedicated handset buttons before, but it's hard to argue with the functionality of a standalone GOOG-411 key. Apparently, Thomson has teamed up with Google to integrate the "first ever one-touch, auto-dial GOOG-411 button" into over a dozen of its GE-branded DECT 6.0 phones. In case you've been chilling under a stone of late, GOOG-411 is the search giant's "free, voice-activated, business directory assistance service," and it will be within reach on a slew of April-bound home phones. For more details on specific models as well as pricing information, head on down to the read link.

[paragraph @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:10PM]

Isn't that what speed dial is for? I've always put my first speed dial for information.

[vf34wrx @ Jan 4th 2008 3:43PM]

Speed dial still requires at least 2 button presses. This allows a single button press to make the Goog-411 call.

[gjp303 @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:24PM]

goog 411 is unbelievably accurate at voice recognition. it scares me sometimes.

[bob sakamano @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:25PM]

nice idea

however, would it be safe to assume that most google users of today dont even have home phones and just use mobile?

also.... i dont see anywhere on the phone to stream adwords

[ethana2 @ Jan 3rd 2008 8:18PM]

I'll say it. I hate landlines. Hate.

You dial me, and it's a wrong number? How do you even do that!? Wrong number? Update your contacts list! WHAT. You don't /have/ one?

..that is simply not acceptable. Do everyone a favor and get a phone where you don't introduce human error into the dialing process. If I'm not in your contacts, I probably don't want you calling me. If I was, and you dialed the wrong contact, now that I don't mind so much, because I /know who you are/.

[vf34wrx @ Jan 4th 2008 3:47PM]

Over 90 percent of all US households have home phone service (VoIP or PSTN) using traditional telephones. Unless you're saying Google's user base represents less than 10 percent of all US households?

[Dave @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:35PM]

Cool, I have been thinking of getting a DECT phone, my old 2.4 Ghz set gets beat down by my WiFi and all sorts of other 2.4Ghz devices.

[Miguel @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:52PM]

I know they technically run in the same band, but I've never had any complications on my WiFi (802.11g router by D-Link, backwards compatible with an 802.11b adapter in my desktop) from my wireless handsets--4 scattered througout the house linked to the base station in the living room. Am I just an exception to the rule?

[Dave @ Jan 3rd 2008 6:13PM]

Access points can be on about 12 different channels, if you live in an apartment or condo where many people have WiFi they tend to use up all the channels.. Add to that some older baby monitors and things start to not work so well.

I recently tested about 3 Baby monitors in my place, only a DECT one came through clear.. All the others where picking up noise from somewhere.

[Valgas @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:51PM]

Anyone have any experience with these Dect 6.0 phones? I was doing some review reading on some with digital answering machines and apparently none of the phones can get it right. They all lack very important features.

[Peter @ Jan 3rd 2008 6:02PM]

OMFG. How in heaven's name did this thing become so ugly?

[ethana2 @ Jan 3rd 2008 8:19PM]

Naw, that looks like vista. I like the vista theme.

...sometimes I use it with compiz.

[Jim @ Jan 3rd 2008 6:42PM]

A home-phone? Do they still exist? Archaic!
This phone looks like a coffee maker... I might actually get a home phone if it made coffee too...

[paul @ Jan 3rd 2008 6:58PM]

What's this "home" phone you speak of?