These services are just way too cool, work well, and will save you money, so I have to tell you about them!   If you are on the road with cell in hand or anywhere that you have phone service,  you can dial Google 411 to have it lookup business numbers for you (sorry not residential yet!).   Rather than pay your cell companies outragageous 411 charge when looking for a business or certain types of information -try Google 411.  Dial 1-800-GOOG-411.

I find stuff like this amazing and ultimately better for all us, maybe it will help make up for the increase in gas prices (save $.99 on a 411 call go 10 miles further down the road with the money you saved)!  Microsoft also has a competing product, Live Search 411, and can be reached by dialing 1-800-CALL-411.

From Google:

Search for businesses by name or category. Can’t stand typing? GOOG-411 will understand your voice and find the business you’re looking for. Search by name (“Giovanni’s pizza”) or category (“Pizza”).

Connect to the business directly, free of charge. No need to write down a note or memorize long phone numbers. GOOG-411 connects you, free of charge.

Get more details by SMS — Simply say “text message” and GOOG-411 will send you a text message with more information and a link to a map of the business you’ve selected, free.

From Microsoft:

  • Connect to any business listing you find-for free
  • Receive SMS links to maps, driving directions and traffic conditions (just say “text me the info”)
  • Get movie showtimes and even buy tickets over the phone (via our partnership with Fandango)
  • Share text messages of business details with friends so they can easily meet you there
  • Hear the current weather conditions and the forecast
  • Quickly access travel resources like airlines, hotels, and rental cars
  • Remember your personalized locations for movie theaters, weather and traffic, and your preferences for receiving text messages.

So next time you’re on the band field and want to access the latest weather report or lost you’re on lost looking for your destination on a band bus, give google 411 or livesearch 411 a call and at least you’ll have the satisfaction of not paying for the call!

                     j. pisano

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