Googlified

Digital Inspiration says that Google’s voice search service is now available in Hyderabad, the fifth most populous city in India (with over 6.7 million residents).  The service should be pretty much the same as the GOOG411 service in the U.S. and Canada, the phone number is different though, instead of 1-800-GOOG411, it is 1-800-41999999. Digital Inspiration noted that customers of Vodafone will not be able to use the service “as [Vadafone] do not allow calls to 1-800 numbers.”

Reader Stan Y. informed me today that Google’s free local directory assistance service - GOOG-411 is now available in Canada.

I just found something interesting out. It seems that GOOG-411 has now expanded into Canada. I called it with my cellphone (from Canada), and said my city (Windsor, Ontario). It worked! Last month it didn’t. I got results for local businesses in my city.

This news is confirmed by Googling Google’s Garett Rogers, who resides in Canada, and Peter Dawson on the Google Blogoscoped forum. Google has yet to update its support page for “Where does GOOG-411 work?” though.

[thanks Stan!]

You have seen those Google 411 ads on big billboards, now they are running around San Francisco on taxi toppers.

[photo by Niall Kennedy, used under a CC-license]

I am going to choose Jonathan Matus as my guess for “the voice behind Google 411″. What’s your take on this? :)

Google’s promoting their 411 service, Google 411, using these cards/stickers.

“Search business by name or category. Connect free of charge. It’s 411 by Google.”

I wonder how Google distribute these cards, by mail (e.g. with your AdSense check) or in the form of business card?

[photo by Kevin Lim, used with permission]

Starting from today, whenever you say “Map It” during a GOOG-411 conversation, Google will send you a message “with the details of your search plus a link” to Google Maps.

I think this has something to do with today’s iPhone release. If you recall, iPhone has Google Maps built-in.

On a related note, “Google Maps is surprisingly responsive, even over EDGE”, the Unofficial Apple Blog commented on iPhone, “However, YouTube videos take a bit longer than advertised on TV to buffer and begin playing, even over Wi-Fi.”