Comments on: The many voices of Goog411, dude!

By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Ghoulgle-411

Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Ghoulgle-411 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:54:13 +0000

[...] Goog-411 started adding a range of introduction voices in August (see The many voices of Goog411, dude!) including children and voices with distinctive accents. For today they recorded their newest Ghougler for the intro. You can hear today by dialing 1 800-Goog-411 or listen to this mp3: [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:22:15 +0000

Last time I called Free411 I was selected as “the winner of a cruise” to somewhere in the world only if I call this other 800 number … woohoo

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:27:57 +0000

Hi Paul

I would suggest exactly the same. Any technology has to fit into a person’s life in a useful way.

Going forward, the ideal solution, from my perspective would have attributes of both Google and Free411…it is still early in the game and adoption rates going forward will address the meat of the market. Who is to say whether it will be voice activated or more of an iPhone finger activated interface that ultimately ends up with greater market presence in this type of activity.

From my point of view, none of the current crop provide a totally satisfactory experience. As you point out, each user needs to test them and see if there is place for them.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:06:18 +0000

I guess different people can have some drastically different experiences with these numbers. For anyone reading this conversation, I’d say the smart thing would be to try out both for yourself.

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:43:02 +0000

Hi Paul-

Yes the fact that free411 offers residential etc is a critical feature going forward and some means of monetization will be necessary.

That being said my experience with Free411 is that:
1)Its recognition is even less successful with my voice than Google
2)The ad delivery is extremely intrusive
3)(and this is the reason I use Google) Call Completion is a critical mobile feature

So for me the value of Goog-411 is enough to keep using despite its drawback but that was not the case for Free411. I had tried it and stopped using it.

Clearly, for me, the ideal has not yet been reached but I find Google just good enough to not give up.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:26:15 +0000

“My usage habits are very entrenched in the city, business name model of directory assistance and I assume most consumers are as well.”

I think you’re right that most consumers also have the same usage habits, which is why other free d.a. services are gaining traction even without all the Google bells and whistles. A name as simple and intuitive as 1-800-Free411, for example, taps directly into these usage habits — though that # works 100% of the time and offers residential and gov’t listings as well as business listings (you can’t say it’s just the name that’s made them successful). Ultimately, Goog-411 is going to have to charge for it or start placing ads, also, since they can’t rely on the company’s ad revenue forever.