Guh - GOOG 411 is ending tomorrow - WHY!?!?

[Phokus]

http://www.google.com/goog411/

I don't get it, it's such a great service and Bing has a competing service (which, IMO is inferior). I use this all the time. Why the hell is Google ending this?

Our success encouraged us to aim for more innovation. Thus, we’re putting all of our resources into speech-enabling the next generation of Google products and services across a multitude of languages.

This makes no sense, if they're coming out with something else, wouldn't it make sense to keep GOOG 411 until they release it?

 

[ViviTheMage]

damn!

 

[sjwaste]

Man, this thing even has a dedicated button in my in-dash Pioneer navigation unit. I gotta check Avic411 to see if anyone has released a mod to remap to another service - not that I ever actually use it.

 

[Schadenfroh]

This sucks

 

[TallBill]

Once I got a smart phone I never needed this service again. Was really helpful before that though.

 

[Modelworks]

I know it sucks ! I have a cordless home phone with a button that is labeled google 411 and it will work until......


Guess its time to crack open the phone and start hacking firmware.

 

[geno]

Why the hell is Google ending this?

Just a guess but $$$. They're probably not getting their money's worth any more in terms of data collection. Everything Google does is driven by data collection. If they're doing something cool and free, it's because they're gathering useful advertising information off of your actions. If they stop a service, it's because they are no longer getting what they want out of it.

 

[manlymatt83]

Just a guess but $$$. They're probably not getting their money's worth any more in terms of data collection. Everything Google does is driven by data collection. If they're doing something cool and free, it's because they're gathering useful advertising information off of your actions. If they stop a service, it's because they are no longer getting what they want out of it.

This.

The whole reason it existed was to develop speech recognition technology. They have the data they need, so they are closing it.

 

[Leros]

This.

The whole reason it existed was to develop speech recognition technology. They have the data they need, so they are closing it.

Yeah. There was never really a way to monetize the service itself. The only value it had was in helping them to build up their technologies.

 

[geno]

This.

The whole reason it existed was to develop speech recognition technology. They have the data they need, so they are closing it.

I'm sure that trending the businesses people were looking up was also a nice perk as well, something they'll be able to do more cheaply without running an 800 number IVR.

 

[Fritzo]

I've just been using the Voice Search instead. It's even better IMO.

 

[Zee]

i am now a fan of bing411

 

[0roo0roo]

i tried it today..and damnit...

 

[rudeguy]

http://www.free411.com/

 

[drebo]

Goog411 was nice because I could send my VoIP customers to it when they dialed 411. That way I didn't have to bill them for 411 calls. Now, I just send them to Bing411 instead. Google gave a local number to dial. Microsoft doesn't, so now 411 calls truely are free for me! Woo!

 

[thepd7]

sad news but I'm sure they'll have something else kick ass out soon

 

[Nintendesert]

This sucks. Getting us hooked on a good product then pull the plug on it. Oh well, I'll just switch to a competitor now. I spent a lot of time getting my family to use it too.

 

[CZroe]

Goog411 was nice because I could send my VoIP customers to it when they dialed 411. That way I didn't have to bill them for 411 calls. Now, I just send them to Bing411 instead. Google gave a local number to dial. Microsoft doesn't, so now 411 calls truely are free for me! Woo!

I'm confused. If you have to use Microsoft now and they are the ones who DON'T have a free local number, how is it that they are "now" truly free?

 

[geno]

http://www.free411.com/

That's what I used to use, then I got sick of their ads.