FREE-411 launches Dial DIR-ECT-IONS

Filed under: Internet, Mobile Minute, Search

FREE-411 launches Dial DIR-ECT-IONS

by Brad Linder Feb 21st 2008

There are plenty of free services for getting a phone number or address by talking to a computer over your cellphone. Google has GOOG 411, Microsoft has Live Search 411, and then there's the grandaddy of them all, FREE411. But what if you need more than an address or phone number? What if you need driving directions and you don't have mobile web access on your phone?

FREE411 has launched a new service called Dial DIR-ECT-IONS that lets you get step by step directions on pretty much any phone. If you can receive text messages, you can use the service.

Here's how it works. You dial 347-328-4667 (DIR-ECT-IONS) on your cellphone and a friendly voice asks where you'd like to and where you are. When you hang up, the service will send your directions in a text message. If your carrier charges fees for SMS, they will apply. But can you really put a price on a good set of directions when you're lost?

Dial DIR-ECT-IONS isn't the only game in town. Ask.com launched a similar service last month.

[via WebWare]

Tags: 411, dial-dir-ect-ions, dial-directions, dialdirections, free411

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Rob said 6:42PM on 2-21-2008

Google's (GOOGL) text service has been doing directions as well as other services since its inception. Although I will admit that an initial voice prompt would be less cumbersome than texting your query like you do with GOOGL.

Richard Frisch said 3:02PM on 2-24-2008

There is a privacy issue here and a related "do not call this phone number" issue as well.

Does using this or Ask.com's service mean giving your cell phone number to a third party who may then sell it to someone else who may sell it to someone else...? This could be impossible to undo once done.

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