BRAND NEW [WEDNESDAY]

Texting with Google

January 30, 2008

Guess what?  While you are out and about in the world, you no longer need a web browser on your cell phone in order to get phone listings, movie showtimes, sports scores, weather forecasts and more.  

Simply text message your search query to 466453 (which is “Google” spelled out in numbers), wait 2 seconds and ta-da. . .  Google will text you back the info you’re looking for.  Best of all, they don’t charge for this service.  All you pay is whatever standard rates your mobile service provider already charges for sending and receiving text messages.  So if you have free messages through your phone plan, you can use them for Google SMS.

Just a wee example, to get you started.  Want a local business listing?  Enter what you want to find followed by a city and province, or a postal code.  For example: Sushi V6J 2B3, or Busy Bee Cleaners Vancouver BC.  Answers back include multiple listings, with both phone numbers and addresses.

See ya later, 411.

For more info: www.google.ca/mobile/sms/index.html

Yesterday's Weekend Guide has "The Jam" coming to town and a storytelling festival to check out this weekend. Have you entered this week's Contest yet? Win a $100 Gift Certificate to Rogers Video.