Based on the ClickZ article "Google Launches Voice-Based Local Search Experimets" posted on April 10, 2007 Google has recently launched a new service called Google Voice Local Search that allows its users to call up a 1-800 number sponsored by Google to get information about business listings. Although this is only an experiment as of right now the program proves to have great potential in the market. The phone number, 1-800-GOOG-411, will be accessible to anyone, although right now it is only in its experimental phase and may not work, and the caller can say either the business name or category to locate its information. Unfortunately, this program is not yet available to access information for local/residential listings but perhaps in the future this feature will be incorporated into the program.
Reviewers of this service are assuming that by providing the voice search service Google is showing interest in investing in voice interface systems to be used with mobile phones. Essentially, they are creating their own version of a 4-1-1. This is huge for Google.
There is no denying that the Google corporation already has a positive connotation to its name by their users and the general public. Anything Google touches seems to turn to gold (except for a few lawsuits), why should this new program be any different? I have heard many people, myself included, state how much they dislike the way 4-1-1 has turned out. Calling the number to gain information is a genius idea, however, often times getting the information you want can become close to impossible. Usually, when I want to find a phone number or directions to a business or residential location I type the name into Google. Then, Google does its magic and pops out an address, phone number and even the possibility of getting directions all with one click, it just makes sense to add the phone dimension to their program. I am sure that I am not the only person who uses Google’s services as location search and I am also sure that I am not the only person who has been satisfied with my results. This satisfaction only makes me assume that if I were to call and use Google’s phone directory service I would also be presented with an equally satisfied outcome of locating/attaining company information.
Overall, I feel that this is a very smart decision for Google to make. With their past history of success and their widespread fan base their 4-1-1 Google Voice Local Search tool should be a huge success. Hopefully their introductory version makes it big so that they can expand to cover residential locations as well. And if their success is so huge, who’s to say that they can’t take over as the number one phone directory service?
Google's explaination of this new service can be found here.
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2 comments:
This is an interesting article. I also agree that it is a good idea for Google to have a 411 service through mobile phones. I am actually surprised that they have not already executed the service. I never have used regular 411 because it is so much easier to just look up something on the internet like you mentioned. When you are driving and you do not have a GPS system or a computer or internet access in your car which many do not, then having this mobile service would especially be really convenient. Also I think calling 411 costs money, but will this Google service be free like its search services? If it is then it will probably take over the regular 411. I am pretty sure that Google has tons of services that they are in the process of developing (I think they even mentioned that in John Battelle's book The Search that we're reading). I hope that this is one of those services that actually get implemented in Google's group of many great services.
I think 411 used to cost money but it does not if you call from a cell phone? maybe. But i do know that when you call now it makes you press 1 for english and then for me at least they never seem to have the listing i'm looking for. Also, often times I do not know what specific town the business listing I am looking for is in so this makes it very difficult. I do not think that google's 411 requires you to know the town either, although I am not sure. but they never mentioned it. Regardless, it really seems that this service has great potential to grow and even take over the current 411 that we have now.
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