Mobile SMS users in the United States received a new mobile search tool today courtesy of none other than Google (Quote, Chart). The new SMS service, now in beta at Google Labs, promises to help mobile users execute search queries via SMS (define).
Google SMS in its present form allows mobile users to search for local business listings, product prices or even dictionary definitions. The mobile user, whether on a cell phone or other SMS-enabled device like a Blackberry, can access the service by dialing "GOOGL" (46645) to text the query.
The query is made up of the product or service name (Google gives the example of a pizzeria) together with a Zip code or city. The search results are determined by the user's location and include name, address and phone number. A maximum of three results are provided for each query.
According to Georges Harik, director of Googlettes, the new service is essentially an SMS gateway into Google's other services, in particular Local search and Froogle.
More information at InternetNews
Google starts SMS service
Posted on Friday, October 08 2004 @ 7:06 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck