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Using Goog 411 to Find Businesses from Your Phone for Free!
A few weeks ago, I was looking for something at Wal-Mart for our home. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart didn’t have it. I thought that Home Depot or Lowe’s might be the next best place to try.
I also wanted to be able to call them beforehand to make sure that they were open and that they carried the specific item that I needed. Fortunately, Google was just a phone call away.
How to Use Google to Find Businesses
In order to use Google to find businesses from any phone, all you have to do is dial 1-800-Goog-411. You will then be connected to a nice man that will help you find the business you are looking for.
What the Conversation Will Sound Like
Wondering what will happen when you make the phone call? First, the Google man will pick up the phone and rather than saying a friendly “Hello”, will greet you with a quickly spoken “Calls Recorded.”
Here’s exactly how the conversation will go down when you are looking for a Home Depot store in Burlington Vermont:
Google: Calls recorded. Goog 411. What city and state?
Me: Burlington, Vermont
Google: Burlington, Vermont. What business name or category?
Me: The Home Depot.
Here, I could have also said any category, such as restaurants or home improvement stores.
Google: The Home Depot. Searching. Top Listing – Home Depot on Harvest Lane, Williston. I’ll connect you. You can also say more results, details, or go back.
Since I didn’t want to be connected at this particular moment, I decided to go for more details.
Me: Details.
Google: Details. You can also get the details by saying Text Message. Home Depot – 759 Harvest Lane, Williston. Phone Number: 802-872-0039 . Here it is again: Home Depot, 759 Harvest Lane, Williston. Phone Number: 802-872-0039 . Hang on and I’ll connect you, or say go back.
Convenience
It is nice that Google offers to simply text you the information you need since many times when you are out and about, you simply don’t have a pen and paper at your disposal.
Getting a Map
Google can also get you a map of the business you are searching for if you are using an internet-enabled cell-phone. Pretty handy if you are in an unfamiliar area.
Video
This short video, posted officially by Google on YouTube, gives a good overview of how to use Goog 411.
Is There A Better Alternative?
Google may be the best when it comes to searching, however it isn’t the best at everything it does. There is an alternative to Goog 411 that I have personally been using for a few years and prefer to the new Goog 411 service.
The alternative is called Tell Me. You can try it by dialing 1-800-555-TELL. I like to use it because in addition to finding businesses and texting them to you while you are away from home you can also use it to get weather reports, stock quotes, news alerts, movies, taxis, airlines, and driving directions.
My favorite feature of Tell Me is their sports scores. I used to always use the internet on my phone to check on the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. However, once I found out about Tell Me, I was able to cancel the internet on my phone and simply call the free 800 number when I needed the info. To see all of the features Tell Me offers, click here.
Comments
2 Responses to “Using Goog 411 to Find Businesses from Your Phone for Free!”
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I love TellMe. I’m so glad that this site is open-minded enough to realize that, while Google is good at a lot of things, 1-800-555-TELL is much better than Google in offering information by phone.
Thanks for the comment Bony Delicious. I think that Tell Me has been the best consistent provider of information. Perhaps Goog 411 will branch out and add other free services to increase the competition.