Web 2.0: Tellme Goes Up Against Google 411

Tellme.com announced a free new cell-phone-centric business search service today at the Web 2.0 conference here in San Francisco.

You can call a number (1-800-555-TELL) and use an automated menu to get a business listing, much like Google's new 411 service. Tellme recognized my neighborhood in San Francisco when I asked for 'barbeque' listings and offered a number of them for me to choose from.

Also like Google's 411, you can ask the automated service to send you the details as an SMS message if you're on a cell phone. But where Google sends just an address and phone number, Tellme also sends a link to an interactive online map, useful if your phone has a Web browser and data plan.

Or you can send the request as an SMS message in the first place by texting 83356 (Google 411 is 466453). I found this option to be faster and easier, personally.

If that's not enough, Tellme showed me a downloadable cell phone app that lets you speak your request like you would with the phone service and then displays the results. It requires a data access plan with Cingular or Sprint, and it's only available for some phone models. Along with the number, address and map, you can request driving directions through the app.

In the noisy conference hall, the app had trouble recognizing some of my spoken requests, but you can also type in a search. Point your phone's browser to http://m.tellme.com to see if it's available for your phone.

Comments

Tried it. USELESS

opensourcerules

April 18, 2007

4:08 PM PT

Just wanted to let everyone know that there are more than these 2 players when it comes to free 411. 1-800-Free411 has been doing it for a long time, and while we don't have all the bells and whistles as the convoluted stuff above, we do now have category search (details: http://www.free411.com/about/pressreleases/p20070320). Searching by listing or by category, and getting your information for free, are all you really need.

Paul

PaulG

May 10, 2007

3:58 PM PT