Information For Free!!
by Gary Woods

If you've ever had the occasion to dial Information (411) from your cell phone you'll notice that the phone number you needed could cost you about $1.25 on your next bill. As an alternative there are a couple of new short message service (SMS) programs that are offering free searches using text messaging with a text reply to provide address and phone number listings.

The king of search engines has launched the most extensive SMS 411 service called Google SMS. It provides addresses, phone numbers and restaurant listings. Simple send a query, such as "pizza (your zip code)," to 46645 (GOOGL on most phones) and Google SMS will reply with all the pizza parlors in that Zip Code. Furthermore, shoppers can use the service to find out product prices, wordsmiths can look up definitions, and diners can calculate tips.

If all you want is such things as addresses, phone numbers, directions and traffic updates a company called Synfonic offers its own free 411SMS service. Send the state and business name to 650-430-7183, and Synfonic returns a text message with the address and phone number. It can also suggest similar businesses nearby.

If all of this is still too much for you and putting in dial-pad letter sequences on your telephone keyboard is a giant bother just go to www.synfonic.com and set up your own shortcuts, such as S for Starbucks. That should speed up dramatically your finding the information you want.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910