Google’s SMS Service
is unparalled. Basically, you send a query of some kind as a standard text message to the Google #46645 (GOOGL on most phones) and Google sends you back the info you’re looking for at no additional cost, whether it be local business listings, driving directions, movie showtimes, weather conditions, stock quotes or more.
Stop reading this and check it out at http://www.google.com/sms/ - there is a free online demo that is DEFINITELY worth trying. Google may have killed MapQuest with Google Maps, they may kill 411 (the US number for Information) and those annoying $1.25 charges you have to pay from your mobile phone.
[…] I’m a little bitter that it’s not available in Australia just like so many other great Google products and services, including Froogle, Local, Maps and more. Found via Secret Weapon Labs. [back] Filed under: Geek Web Development […]
Taking over the world
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Google is taking over the world. The latest work of brilliance1 is the most fantastic Google SMS. Trying it out is now high on my list of stuff to do when I visit America next month. This service can get …
Open Source Project for Google SMS & Yahoo! SMS Search
The usage of SMS search mandates the need for consumers to memorize separate lists of abstract SMS short codes and numbers. To address this, Google and Yahoo provide downloadable ‘booklets’ containing their respective short codes. This unfortunately reduces usability to enthusiasts, and discourages casual use by the general public.
An open source solution has been developed and released to address the usability issue and remove the need for the casual user to memorize separate list of SMS codes and numbers. The solution uses a widely deployed SAT (SIM Application Toolkit) application to present the SMS search engine in the form of verbose and descriptive user-friendly menus.
With USAT Front-end for Mobile Applications by Tea Vui Huang, the user is presented with options of items/categories to search for, and prompted with instructions for enquiry information as and when required. The collated information is then duly arranged within the mobile handset by the front-end, prefixed with the required short codes and formatted with the appropriate text spacing. The search request is then sent to the respective SMS number without any involvement of the user.
Key features of USAT Front-end for Mobile Applications include:
- Open Source Initiative (OSI) Certified Open Source Software distributed under MIT License
- Users do not need to memorize lists of SMS short codes and numbers
- Users do not need to remember SMS input format / spacing requirements
- Users are prompted with full textual description of entry items that needs to be keyed in
- Support for low-end cell phones / mobile phones
- No major changes required to the system and servers of Telco / Cellco / Search Engine providers
USAT Front-end for Mobile Applications
http://sourceforge.net/projects/usatfrontend
Screenshots / Photos
http://sourceforge.net/project/screenshots.php?group_id=145904
huh?
me too!….. huh?