Google starts SMS search for no-Net phones

By editor | Published: November 19, 2008

Search giant Google Inc took the Internet war to a new high on Tuesday by launching an SMS-based service that will offer search services across the country at cheaper rates to those who have mobile phones but do not have Internet connections.

Apart from the unrestricted search linked to its market-leading search engine, Google is also aiming to woo tens of millions of people not touched by the World Wide Web.

Airtel has a search service for local content in partnership with AskLaila.com, a local search engine that also feeds in systematic, verified content. Airtel covers six cities while Yahoo’s facility is restricted to four.

“Of the 300 million mobile subscribers, only about 5-10 million mobile users use a data plan on their handsets. The next 100 million are savvy SMS users and it is to cater to these that we have launched SMS Search,” Vinay Goel, head of products at Google India told HT.

Users can look for movie show timings, flight status and train schedules amongst others using SMS Search. Users from India can send a search query through a text message to 9-77-33-00000 and expect to receive an automated response with relevant results.

Links: Google SMS | Google SMS India