« Previous entry: Is Dual Agency in the public’s best... • • • Next entry: Pulling out all the stops to win the... »
Google 411
We are a mobile industry. Finding new tricks to hook us up to information while on the road is pretty important.
Looking for a new trick to save some change? How about spending nothing (if you have an unlimited cell phone text messaging plan) as opposed to $1 or more for calling 411 and having to write down a phone number. Have I got your attention?
A few years ago, Amy Chorew – national technology instructor taught this trick at a VAR Convention. This is why I go to all the classes I can get, but if you ever get the chance to attend a Chorew class… GO!
Ok, here’s the trick….
First, go to your txt message / SMS message software on your phone. I use the Treo 650 and will use screen shots from my phone (which is pretty cool in and of itself) to illustrate.
Open the new message screen and enter Google in numbers, which is 466453. Then go to the message area and type in a clients name or business name and the zip code. Then hit “send”.
Once you hit send, it will take a few seconds and you’ll get your response.
Notice that your message comes back with a hyper-linked telephone number and the address. If there are more than one in the area, it will list all the people or business in order of those nearest the center of the zip code and out. You can click on the telephone number if you have an iPhone, BlackBerry or other type phone. Otherwise select it on your cell phone and hit “send” on your phone (usually the green button on most phones, with the telephone symbol on it.
From there it will not only dial the number, without having to write it and re-dial the number. It also allows you to save the number in your sms messages so that you can add it to your contacts later.
One last hint: I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember 466453, so I saved it as a new contact under Goggle in my phone book for future reference. It’s really a cheap and cool trick – ENJOY!!!!
Matthew,
Still love the idea. I am now also text messaging by using JOTT - the voice to text FREE program.
[...] Rathbun has a done a great job explaining the “How To” of googling. Click here to see how he explains it. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where [...]
Actually the short code is 46645 and the 3 isn’t needed. And that 5 digit short code stands for GOOGL on most phones that have the ABC under #2.
You can also use google text to find a phone number that just called you. If you missed a call and want to know who it is, send a google text with that number and it will tell you who that # is if they are in the phone book (not good for cell phones)
I also type in weather 22201 or movies 22201 or “Is Frank the best Realtor in the world”
Frank, you’re correct about the short code, but I’ve found that a lot of folks were getting confused about the short cut, so I used the full number in the demo.
The rest of the options are all great uses for this system. Exploring Google Apps and Labs are well worth your time. For both IE and Firefox users, you can add Google SMS to your browsers so that you can txt message from your PC, as well.
Enjoy!
I started doing this last year including “seafood 22102″ to my “google” contact in my planner to find Legal Seafood Monday to meet up for lunch. I love this tool! Of course the world’s best contact/planner software “Agendus Premier” has a great 411 feature as well.
Ben have you used Agendus? If not I’m sorry you’re living in the past–haha
Here’s the link for everybody: http://www.iambic.com/agend
uspremier/palmos/default.asp
It’s not available for blackberry yet.
Kudos for the reminder Matt. I’d forgotten all about this. Now my Tom Tom has a reason to be jealous of my cell phone.
Tricks of the trade revealed. I love it! Thanks for sharing.
[...] Mathew Rathburn on VAR posted a trick to avoid the $1 fee of contacting 411 from your phone. Text message google at [...]
I love it! This trick is great! Thanks for sharing it!
This is awesome. I was just in San Diego last week and there were several times that I needed to find a certain place whilst we were there. I wish I would have known about this. I am gonna program that into my phone. Thanks for the tips.
[...] I was reading http://www.varbuzz.comand there was a post about Texting Google so I thought I would give it a try and I love it! If you want to read the post see: http://varbuzz.com/google-411/ [...]
Very cool tip, thanks! I just checked out JOTT too.