Google, Yahoo, and 4Info offer search features through text messages from mobile phones.


Text messaging, a service that is being offered free by most of the mobile phone service providers, can be used to search a location, address, a stock quote or even a weather forecast.

Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and 4Info Inc. are offering their search features via text messages whereby the user can send a query to the search engine and get response within a few seconds.

To use this service, a user needs to send a text message with the search request to the five-digit number for YAHOO (92466) or GOOGL (46645) or 4INFO (44636). The three work in a similar manner.

You can search for weather by typing in “Weather 20071” or, alternatively, just “W 20071” or “W Washington DC.” All three also offer stock quote searches by typing in the company’s ticker symbol.

These service providers have some features unique to them also. For example Google offers driving directions and answers simple queries while 4Info offers more of sports and entertainment based stuff.

Nicole Leverich, a spokeswoman for Yahoo said that providing this service for free does not generate any direct revenue but it makes users more loyal to the Yahoo brand. [Source]

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