Technology Advisor

[#1]

Put this in the Cell Phone Fanatic category of users – those people who are always looking for a new app for their phone. That’s not hard if you have an iPhone with its robust app store; the rest of us have to search a little harder. Enter Google and 1-800-GOOG-411.

This is a free 411 service for your phone that helps you find a local business – by name (Pizza Hut) or by category (pizza delivery) – then dials that business for you. It’s all voice activated and you can use your cell phone or your land line, any time, any where. If you’re using your cell phone just say “text message” or “map it” and GOOG 411 will send you a text message with directions and a map.

It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s free. Try it and see what you think. There’s a video to show you how, plus a list of FAQ if you want all the details. In the video they order pizza; me, I just asked for the nearest shoe store (we probably don’t need to mention this to my husband).

Shari Willman

Product Manager

Message Edited by ShariW on 02-12-2009 04:42 PM

[#2]

Thanks for this info Shari, I wasn't previously aware Google had begun offering this service. I've been using a similar but more comprehensive service from Tellme (tellme.com) for the past 3 years. Tellme offers voice-driven Business search and connect features like Google now does, but also offers many additional features like Weather, Stock Quotes, News Center (by category ie. business, technology etc), Travel info, and much more. Can call from any phone: 800-555-TELL (8355). Their voice recognition has been very accurate for me, even when calling from WiFi VoIP phones using low bit-rate codecs on a speaker-phone!

Regards, Bill 

[#3]

Hey Bill,

I checked it out and tellme.com looks like a very robust service. I'm going to try it over the next few weeks.

You sound like a cell phone power user -- what else do you use your mobile device for? What do you wish you could use it for? And just one more question -- what type of device do you have -- BlackBerry or a Windows Mobile device?

How about everyone else? Have any of you tried this or the Google service? Tell us what you think.

Thanks! Shari

[#4]

I have a Windows Mobile 5 PDA style phone - AT&T 8525, with WiFi in addition to 3G cellular broadband. Besides making phone calls of course, I use it regularly for a number of applications:

1. broadcasting live video on the internet using the Livecast service (livecast.com) using the built in video camera

2  making VoIP calls over Wi-Fi connections whenever traveling abroad, to save on expensive international roaming rates. I use Skype mainly, but can also use with SIP standard VoIP services.

3. watch my home's cable TV channels for free while traveling using the Slingplayer Mobile app installed on my phone by connecting to my slingbox (slingmedia.com).

4. and of course email, text messaging, web browsing, instant messaging, sending videos and pics, etc. 

I like the Windows Mobile platform because I have the mobile versions of Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Windows Media Player, so I'm able to access most of the content and business documents as with a regular full-fledged PC. Plus, I downloaded the Windows Remote Desktop client so I can access my home and office computers as if I was sitting right in front of them (good only for emergency use because the small screen size of the mobile phone makes it extremely painful). 

Regards, Bill