Google with your Voice

As part of Google’s ongoing effort to make the world’s information universally accessible, they have created a free service called Google Voice Local Search. The service allows you to use any phone to search for a business listing. Simply call 800-GOOG-411 (800-466-4411) and speak your search phase.

You can search for a specific business name or for a category. For example, you could just say “pizza,” and you’ll get a listing of pizza providers. You can then send the listing details to your mobile phone via SMS by saying “text message” or you can say “map it” to receive a map link to the business. Keep in mind, though, that these specific commands will only work from a mobile phone.

The service is fully automated, so it doesn’t rely on human operators. It connects you directly to the business, free of charge. However, your telephone company may apply regular charges for making a phone call or receiving an SMS. The information provided is the same local information you’d find on Google Maps.

Google Voice Local Search may not be available at all times and may not work for all users. They are fine-tuning the service to get better at recognizing users’ requests and finding the businesses they are looking for. Currently, GOOG-411 is only available in English, in the US and Canada for US and Canadian business listings.