Google's Toll-Free Business Telephone 411 Service

Gary North

Feb. 18, 2008

Google has introduced an amazing service, which has to be costing the company millions of dollars -- in other words, hardly anything. It offers a toll-free 411 service for businesses.

You dial this 800 number:

800-GOOG411

You are greeted by a voice. It asks you what city you want to call. You say the city. It confirms this. Then it asks what business name or business category. You tell it. It doesn't give you the number. It dials the number for you automatically. No muss, no fuss.

This week, I was at the Nashville airport. It was below freezing. I was in a heated waiting room for mini- bus services. I had waited quite some time. Then I remembered that I had a cell phone (I rarely carry one) and that Google offers a toll-free phone number service.

I dialed. I was put through to the FlyAway company. The girl on the line told me that a van was on its way.

I had not known if the van service was running on time. This way, I did not have to worry.

Thanks, Google.

I'm getting in on the "introductory free service" end of the deal. It will be interesting to see how Google will make money with this service.

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