There's no shortage of local search applications for cell phone users to rely on. In addition to Google Maps Mobile, Yahoo OneSearch (which is also bundled into Yahoo Go), and TellMe's BlackBerry app, is newcomer FreeMobile411, a simple, clean-looking WAP app that searches local business and residential listings for people, business names, and business types. While the publisher, V-Enable, works on distributing a more robust client through cell phone carriers starting with Sprint, FreeMobile411.com remains as reliable a lookup for people on low-end Internet phones as it is on high-end phones.
Thumbs up: The local listings app takes voice direction. Thumbs down: For the time being, you can only get it on eight Sprint cell phones.
(Credit: V-Enable)At CTIA 2008 in Las Vegas, Yahoo's executive vice president of Connected Life, Marco Boerries, demonstrated with great enthusiasm the newest feature to grace its mobile search tool: voice input. The technique, which asks users to press and hold a key while speaking their lookup request, is already active in Windows Live Search Mobile. Yahoo, however, hasn't released it beyond a preview. On Tuesday, one ankle-biting competitor jumped into the ring with its version of voice search.
FreeMobile411, which was itself just released in WAP form on April 11 (4/11--sigh), announced a Java version that adds the ability to search local listings by listening to your speech. While the overarching technology has been around for a while in the guise of carrier-branded solutions, it's the first time that parent company V-Enable is marketing it under the FreeMobile411 identity.
The upshot? FreeMobile411's beta Java application is ready for action, and like Yahoo's oneSearch 2.0, its predictive typing and favorites-saving features enhance a search experience that includes businesses and residential listings within the U.S. The down side? For the time being, FreeMobile411's Java app rollout is pitifully small--just eight Sprint cell phones. It's not nearly enough to challenge Yahoo head-on, but it will be interesting to compare these apps side-by-side when they're both easy to get. Windows Live Search Mobile, too, had better put up its dukes.
You'll be able to keep tabs on the FreeMobile411 app's status via the Web site, also launched Tuesday. In the meantime, anyone with an Internet-enabled phone can try the basic service using FreeMobile411's WAP site.
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
There's no real killer app yet for retrieving listings information on your mobile phone, but there could be soon.
On Aptil 11, FreeMobile411 launches the consumer version of its carrier-offered services. Visting FreeMobile411.com from your mobile browser gets you a decent-looking ad-supported WAP site that simplifies directory search and helps you avoid long waits while listening to ads from dial-in services like 1-800-FREE-411.
Enter the search term--it can be a business name ("Blockbuster"), business type ("video store"), or person ("Bill Blockbuster"). Then select the search type, and fill in either the city or zip to search or browse listings. From there you'll have a spectrum of choices to plot on a map, get directions to, dial with a click, or use as an anchor while searching for nearby gap pumps, hotels, banks, and so on. You'll still be able to connect to the operator at the usual carrier rate, but with this useful, easily navigable app, it's doubtful you'll ever need to. P.S. It even looks decent on the RAZR!
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