Telephone directory service has gone through a massive upheaval over the past year. Jingle Networks was able to take about 6% of the market and a patent with their Free 411 service. However, what started with Jingle Networks has exploded to a wider field of competition including heavyweights like Google and AT&T. But now, rather unceremoniously, Microsoft has finally gotten into the mix by launching their own free directory service, Live Search 411, this week. The announcement was mixed in with a few other notes about visual enhancements across their maps services. In contrast, Google has been visibly promoting their effort.
The free 411 service, Live Search 411, is a mobile service developed in partnership with recently acquired TellMe. You can get the service on any phone by dialing 1-800-CALL-411 (1-800-225-5411).
Like GOOG 411 users can get local directory service. All you have to do is say the city and state, then ask for the business or category to hear a list of options. However, the two services differ in their details. Live Search 411 also offer other services, such as movie times, weather, and traffic info. Like Google, internet enabled phones can have the results text messaged to them with a link to a map, but no directions. Those of you with really old phones and a need for directions can still try Dial Directions, a service that sends them to you in plain text over SMS.
They also differ in some smaller ways as well. Live Search prompts the user for input more often than GOOG 411, which assumes a lot of responses unless the user says otherwise. Live 411 lets you search by city district as well, which is useful if you want to find a restaurant around where you live. I found the voice recognition on both services to be equal, with both failing for names of some Italian restaurants I searched.
The fight between these well financed services will likely be a long one, and no one’s making any money yet.
Yeap, techcrunch is on drugs.
For those of you with realllly old phone, Dial Directions is a service that can write up these directions and send them over SMS.
What’s “realllly”?
Google’s 411 will send an SMS message too.
Dial Direction’s SMS out the turn by turn directions, which could be useful for some users. GOOG 411 and Live send you address info and a link to a map for internet enabled mobile phones.
Yup, next stop for Microsoft Voice is their upcoming hosted CRM offering. Look back at my postings when Microsoft announced the TellMe acquisition.
This is DEFINITELY an area where they have Google beat!
I don’t care if they’re giving gold and diamonds for free.
No M$ in my life, no trust, no ethics, no sir.
Yes I am retarded, I got to live like that.
“With the introduction of voice search, the traditional directory assistance market is quickly changing so it’s not a surprise that Microsoft, Google and AT&T are realizing the business opportunity in free 411. Success is building - but there definitely is a formula to crack. Offering a successful service that consumers love and use, and is supported by a viable business model doesn’t happen over night Having been at it for 2 years, Jingle is now projecting profitability on a per call basis in the next few months.”
Advances in voice recognition and the current economics of teleco make this an exciting time for voice-based services. Goog-411, Live Search 411, and Jingle focus on advancing the “input” of local search and are getting better at: “Find me the number for Bill the Barber.” Seems to be a lot of “me too” activity in this space.
One break-out is FastCall411, which launched at DEMO last month. The company helps with category searches and recommendations: “I need a haircut today.” FastCall411 focuses on the recommendations of local merchants or service providers and connects the consumer to merchants who are available. Today’s directory assistance services use text-to-speech to read the names and numbers of the business. The consumer is then left on their own to be connected, or not in the case of a busy signal, not answered call, disconnected number or barbers who do not have haircut appointments open today.