You can now text search queries to Google using their new Google SMS feature for your mobile device. By texting your query to 466453, which spells GOOGLE on most devices, you can get information while away from your computer. I did some testing with this feature and found that although some results were quite accurate, others were quite off base and Google should keep working at refining results. I was, however, very impressed with the speed in which Google responded as I received a text from them with search results in less than 10 seconds each time.
Google SMS Search Results:
The results that you will receive back from the SMS feature are different than the normal Google search results. Rather than receiving a listing of webpages, you receive actual information. For example, if you query 'luxury hotel in New York', rather than receiving a list of websites, you receive actual hotel names, addresses and phone numbers. If you query 'weather Boston', you receive actual weather information rather than a list of weather websites.
Can I Use Google SMS on any mobile device?
According to Google's Mobile Help Center, their SMS service will work on all of the major United States mobile providers including Alltel, AT&T, Centennial, Dobson, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, and Virgin Mobile. The service is also only available in the United States, Canada, China, Japan and India and is only available in English. Although Google does not charge for the service, you should verify with your provider as to the fees they charge for texting and ensure that you have text messaging enabled.
What type of search queries can I send?
You are able to search for anything just as you would on Google, however, you should be very specific or you will get no results. For example, if you text Google SMS the phrase 'cheese', you will get no results. However, if you add a location, you will receive local information about cheese companies or add the word 'define' in front and you receive the definition of the word.
To be more specific on your searches, Google has given some examples on their SMS help page (See Google SMS Help Page Here ). Here are the few that I can see to be useful while mobile and away from home.
Weather: Include the word 'weather' in your query along with a zip code or city and state. The tests I ran showed the current weather as well as a very short three day forcast.
Local search: Use either a zip code or town and state along with a phrase such as 'hotel' or 'italian restaurant'. You will typically receive 1-3 local businesses.
Sports Queries: Need a score, just add the phrase 'score' along with the team name.
Flight Information: Enter the word 'flight' along with the name of the airline and the flight number.
Other query examples found on their help page include stock information, movies, area codes, currency conversion, directions and more.
If you are out and about and are in need of information, try texting the new Google SMS at 466453. What will they think of next?
