Updated: Ever since Microsoft bought Tellme Networks, the big question is what would Google do in response? It became a little clearer today when Google announced a free 411 service, which is a fraction of what TellMe-Microsoft has to offer. More details here.
I had been mucking around with this service last night, and didn’t end up writing about it because it is something that has been speculated for a long time. There were reports of 877-520FIND earlier. Google had hired a few folks out of Nuance, a speech recognition technology company last year, and perhaps the new launch is a culmination of their efforts.
Initial tests of the experimental service are like any new Google offering: they have promise to get better. The barrier has been set quite high by Tellme-based offerings, though they are not ad-supported. There is nothing to stop Microsoft from launching an ad-supported 411 service. Still, Google’s new ad-supported 411 service is an attempt by the company to extend its search-and-advertising franchise to the voice domain, indicating that the company has grander ambitions. (Or delusions, if you are a skeptic.)
The new offering is also a way for Google to needle the incumbent phone companies (not exactly a new fight for the search giant) by hurting the lucrative 411-business. Regardless, this is negative news for free 411 start-ups that have been building ad-supported 411 services. It is hard to figure out if anyone is actually making money on these services.
PS: Sorry for not offering more analysis right now, since I am judging the enterprenuer idol at UC Berkeley. See where I was on Justin.TV.
12 trackbacks so far
12:40 PM PT
[...] Google Labs has debuted a test version of a free 411 service today: dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) to access it. There’s more info on the FAQ page. The local business info comes from Google Maps/Google Local. Another example of Google moving into a market and potentially disrupting it? [via] [...]
12:57 PM PT
[...] 6th, 2007 Om Malik reports on Google’s beta free 411 service. Call 800-GOOG-411 to get free business [...]
1:12 PM PT
google voice local search…
speaking of which google launches another free service called “google voice local search”.
“it is an experiment on google labs that offers free 411-like service. with google voice local search, you get fully-automated, fast access to same local-bus…
1:24 PM PT
[...] [via GigaOm] [...]
3:15 PM PT
[...] Om Malik reports on Google’s beta free 411 service. Call 800-GOOG-411 to get free business listings. [...]
6:53 PM PT
[...] Om Malik says Google has launched a free 411 service . Interested to see where all this goes. I think it partially explains the sweet strength in the stock this year. Likely much more to come as the big dogs jockey for space in Voice. [...]
9:22 PM PT
[...] Om Malik thinks this is just a fraction of what is to come from the TellMe-Microsoft [...]
11:10 PM PT
Google Launches free 411 service…
Google announced a free 411 service yesterday, reports GigaOM.
In their own words: Google Voice Local Search is an experiment on Google Labs that offers free 411-like service.
With Google Voice Local Search, you get fully-automated, fast access to …
6:19 AM PT
[...] 点击进入 [via] [...]
7:31 AM PT
[...] has recently launched it’s own 411 service, perhaps in response to Microsoft’s purchase of Tellme networks which specialize in telephone [...]
12:45 AM PT
[...] Google has launched a free local search service that you can access via 1-800-GOOG-411 (800.466.4411). It’s simple, does only one thing, and isn’t perfect, but it could be the start of a very useful service. You call, give your city and state, followed by a business name or category, and the automated voice starts giving you search results. Sometimes, if it isn’t a dictionary word, the voice guy has trouble making any sense, but the voice recognition seems very solid. [...]
10:17 PM PT
GOOG-411…
Google is at it again. Now they have a free 411 service that apparently will be advertisement based but current trials have not shown up with any ads (yet). To try their experimental service, just do the following: To try……
25 comments so far
11:43 AM PT
Interesting, a probable competitor to 1800-FREE-411. Speculation of voice/audio advertising?
12:04 PM PT
I still like Business Search on Tellme better (1-800-555-TELL).
12:10 PM PT
“See where I am on Justin.TV.”
Not clear.
Elaborate!
12:16 PM PT
Go to (link) - and watch the live video stream, Om is on the right side of the table.
12:18 PM PT
Go check out the Justin.tv site, and you’ll probably see Om on the video feed.
1:32 PM PT
Just tried it out. Smooth transaction. A+++++. Will do business again.
4:22 PM PT
Most likely Google is using Nuance Speech Technologies.
look for Google to expand to other Speech based offerings in the future.
4:23 PM PT
Just tried it. I had no idea these alternatives existed. Better than Verizon, and Free.
Sold.
4:51 PM PT
This is a direct attempt by Google to make inroads by Google on TELLME’S turf !
5:26 PM PT
Google is going with the best speech recognition technology in the world !
NUANCE SPEECH TECHNOLOGIES !
5:32 PM PT
OM,
Which speech technology do you think Google is using ?
Thanks !
Joshua
5:43 PM PT
Joshua
thanks for your comments. I am not sure what technology they are using but I am trying to find out. As soon as I find out those details, I will post an update!
6:26 PM PT
Om,
Thanks !
Joshua
6:36 PM PT
great stuff - thanks om - No wonder nuance has been so strong.
2:16 PM PT
It will be interesting to see how Google’s new free-411 service competes against AT&T’s 1-800-YellowPages. Two giants going against each other. Google has Internet coolness and lots of cash, but AT&T has a world-class telecommunication infrastructure, great partners (VoltDelta & Apptera) and trained operator back-up.
I wonder how all the other phone companies are going to respond. Will they just watch their paid-411 volumes slip away or will they all get into the game and we’ll have a dozen choices for free-411? Good for consumers and more targets for advertisers. Everyone wins!
2:25 PM PT
Entirely voice activated sounds better than the 118 services in the UK, some of which are outsourced to Asia. Nothing wrong with this in principle, except some operators haven’t heard of Scotland.
7:08 AM PT
Om–well; depending on whether or not Microsoft/TellMe and/or Google/Nuance decide to assert them (which wouldn’t be surprising given the obvious importance of this space); it looks likely that another “IP war” is likely to be waged over this/these technologies.
TellMe has no fewer than 12 issued patents; while Nuance has 31.
Also wouldn’t surprise me if others have applicable patents–both issued and pending–as well.
8:57 PM PT
On a related note, I heard about an interesting company in LA that has a beta call connections service that connects calls to Google and Tellme free-of-charge. The service seems to be accessible at 800-555-5555 for callers in Southern California, and at 310-800-5555 from outside that area. They also have an interesting travel connections portal if you say “travel”. Call their number and check it out.
10:25 AM PT
I tried the service yesterday and i had a terrible experience. the call quality was bad (not once but thrice) and voice recognition was poor.
was it just me and my luck?
8:30 AM PT
Bad luck, Aditya, it works for me. The best thing is the fake “bo-be-do-boop-de-boop-doop” sound it makes while searching for the listing. I laugh everytime.
11:30 AM PT
Just a note: Nuance and Tellme are not necessarily mutually exclusive; Tellme has been using Nuance technology from day-one and is still using it, though it might change in the future.
10:59 PM PT
Om,
Did you find out which speech recognition technology Google is using ?
Thanks,
Joshua
10:08 PM PT
Om,
Did you confirm that Google is using Nuance Speech recognition ?
Thanks,
Joshua
4:45 PM PT
Interesting that no one is really comparing the Goog-411 number with the established free 411 company, 1-800-Free411. Goog-411 has business listings, while 1-800-Free411 has business, residential, and gov’t listings. Both run on speech-recognition technology, but only 1-800-Free411 has live operator support in case what you’re searching for has a very unusual or hard to pronounce name. AND, 1-800-Free411 is doing category search now: (link)
I understand that people get excited when Google rolls out with something new, but in this case their number is nowhere near the best in the free 411 field.
11:35 AM PT
In the end, free411 and google are exactly the same–placement (for businesses) will be determined by the all might dollar.
I had a free411 marketing guy stop by my business trying to get me to signup–too pricey….
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