Google Inc. on Monday began offering a downloadable application that
extends its Google Local service to some mobile phone users.
Called Google Local for mobile, the application lets users search for
locations and then view them on a map. Users can also view the
location as a satellite image and get driving directions.
Also, when users find a listing through the service, they can click on
the phone number and automatically place a call to the number.
Users can shift their view of the map or zoom, just like they can drag
and zoom in on maps in Google Local on computers.
Users of mobile phones that can download Java applications can use the
service, which is now only available in the U.S.
That means Cingular Wireless LLC, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA
Inc. customers with certain phones can download the application but
Verizon Communications Inc., Alltel Corp. and U.S. Cellular customers
won't be able to use it. Nextel, BlackBerry and Palm devices are not
supported.
The application is free to download, but customers will be charged
data access fees by their operators to use it.
Google has already offered other mobile services. For example, mobile
phone users can send text messages to Google asking for the location
of a business or for driving directions.
Mobile users with Web-enabled phones can also search the Internet
using a mobile version of Google.
Yahoo also has a number of services optimized for mobile users, such
as search, downloadable games and photo-sharing services.
www.macworld.com
1 comment:
The Google Maps service is a killer idea. I just moved to a new city and I get lost all the time!
Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless is terrible. They have the most outdated phones. The phones they do support are by LG instead of slick campanies like Motorola. (Oh, how I long for a RAZR!) Shouldn't every wireless phone carrier support this?
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