Google has launched its experimental voice search facility in Hyderabad through a toll free number (1-800-41-999-999). This comes six months after it launched its text search for mobile users through 54664.
The service was launched quietly over the weekend and the news broke out in blogs. Digital news site, contentsutra.com succeeded in getting an official response from Google. “Google has introduced a pilot for voice search in Hyderabad. Voice enables us to reach non-web users in local languages, while still ever aging our core strength in search. We are focusing on our users and innovating for the needs of the local market. This pilot will enable us to get real user feedback to improve the service before a full launch,” Google said.
The Statesman dialled the toll free number, which landed at Google’s call centre. When asked about Imax’s telephone number, the operator said she could give it over phone or would text the message to the mobile. The best part was she offered to connect the call directly to Imax for free.
To make this commercially viable Google would, in time, include advertisements in text messages. If a standard text message is around 30 words, half of that would contain the information sought and half would carry the advertisement. It could also adopt the US model where the voice search system would say “say your search keywords” and one can ask for restaurants or movies with one’s current location.