This summer when I was on vacation, I used the 411 service on my mobile phone a few times… then when I received the bill I was reminded that my cell phone company charges $1.75 for each call to directory information.

If only I’d known then about Google’s Free 411 Service –
1-800-GOOG-411 – an automated service that uses speech recognition technology to provide the information users need.

Update:
Unfortunately Google has discontinued GOOG-411
However Microsoft has a similar service… for free: 1-800-Bing-411

You can learn more in this video from Google:

Here’s more info on how GOOG-411 works…

The speech recognition seems to work well. And  there’s no advertising – so you aren’t held prisoner listening to a commercial while you wait for the info you need.

At any point in the call, you can say “go back” or “start over” to navigate the system. If you wish, Google will send you a text message via SMS with more details and a map — Just say, “Text message” or “Map it”

This service provides only business phone listings, not residential phone numbers. In other words, it works as a yellow pages, but not a white pages directory.

Why is Google providing this service for free? According to the company, the free service will enable Google to build a large database of phenomes (language sounds) that will help Google build future voice recognition technologies.

This is a free service (at least far as Google is concerned), but obviously you will be responsible for the cost (if any) for SMS messages and the actual minutes you use, according to the terms of your mobile phone service plan.

Sources:
1-800-GOOG-411: Find and connect with local businesses for free
GOOG-411 – Mobile Help Center
Using GOOG-411
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN0q8SvlQAk
GOOG-411 on Wikipedia