google 411

One year ago, I posted Google Voice Search is “coming soon“, and it’s now here, though it is a bit late than anticipated. It is a service that you can “get fast access to the same local information you’d find on Google Maps” using a cell phone. No, you don’t need a computer or internet connection. Most importantly, it’s free (on Google’s side, you will still be charge for your phone service).

“To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone.”

So I gave them a call…

  • Dialing tone…
  • Google: Calls recorded for quality, Google 411, experimental
  • Google: What city and state
  • Haochi: Columbus, Ohio
  • Google: [asks for query]
  • Haochi: Apple Store
  • Google: Text Code
  • Haochi: Go back (go back to the previous step because “text code” is not what I said)
  • Haochi: Pizzahut
  • Google: [reads the top 8 results]
  • Haochi: First result

You can then either send a text message or get the detail of the business, such as location and phone number.

  • Google: [reads the detail of the first location]
  • Haochi: [hangs the phone]

You can find a cheat sheet of the service here. It’s really helpful when Google doesn’t know what you are saying.

I will give the service a 6/10 for voice recognition.

UPDATE: Download Squad’s Brad Linder recorded the conversation…


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