IndustryA New Mobile Phone Search Service

A New Mobile Phone Search Service

UpSnap turns your cell phone in to a search tool, offering free directory assistance lookups using SMS text messaging.

UpSnap turns your cell phone in to a search tool, offering free directory assistance lookups using SMS text messaging.

Using the service is simple and straightforward, either from your SMS-enabled cell phone or via UpSnap.com. Simply type the name and location of a business you’re trying to find and UpSnap returns directory information. Your phone does not need a browser or the ability to connect to the internet to use the service.

The service is free and is supported by sponsored listings. To access the service from your phone, simply send a text message to 604.877.7627. Most carriers do not charge long-distance fees for SMS messages–you’ll pay only the fees charged by your carrier for a message (if any).

The search system attempts to interpret your request intelligently. For example you can search for services, people, products and companies by telephone area code, by Zip Code or by U.S. airport code.

For example, to locate a Starbucks in San Francisco, you can use any of the following combinations:

starbucks san francisco CA
starbucks san fran (partial match)
starbucks 415 (by area code)
starbucks 94118 (by Zip Code)
starbucks SFO (by airport code)

If UpSnap can’t understand your request, it sends your phone template with a pre-formatted search string. Edit the template and reply with your commands in the template format.

Advertisers have both paid placement and call-back service options. For more information see UpSnap’s For Advertisers section.

UpSnap is the brainchild of Tony Philipp, who built Lycos Europe and later worked with Vivisimo. Partners in the venture include web veterans Richard Jones from Fortunecity and Wendell Brown from Evoice.

Philipp says that future services will include white pages, shopping comparison, search and tracking of eBbay auctions and other services.

The search via mobile phone space is suddenly heating up, with the launch of a number of new services this year. News Editor Gary Price will be taking a closer look at two promising services, Mobot and Evernote, in an upcoming issue of SearchDay.

Search Headlines

NOTE: Article links often change. In case of a bad link, use the publication’s search facility, which most have, and search for the headline.

Google’s creative search for elite programmers
AP via San Francisco Chronicle Oct 24 2004 10:12PM GMT
Google rules out becoming net portal
Financial Times sub Oct 24 2004 9:40PM GMT
Web search tracking tool
The Hindu Oct 24 2004 8:39PM GMT
How To Access Your Google Desktop From Another Machine
InsideGoogle Oct 24 2004 5:38PM GMT
The race for Total Search intensifies
Pandia Oct 24 2004 5:20PM GMT
Web sites help gauge the veracity of claims Online resources check ads, rumors
San Francisco Chronicle Oct 24 2004 4:52PM GMT
Finding legal information online
IHT Oct 24 2004 1:49PM GMT
Web Desktop Moves Raise Security Alerts
eWeek Oct 24 2004 1:44PM GMT
Men talk to Google not girlfriends
vnunet.com Oct 24 2004 1:20PM GMT
Search Meets TV
Search Engine Watch Oct 24 2004 1:02PM GMT
Google: A Behind-the-Scenes Look (and other Lectures)
Search Engine Watch Oct 24 2004 12:54PM GMT
Sale item search engine sniffs out local deals
Contra Costa Times Oct 23 2004 10:43AM GMT
Under Gmails hood
InfoWorld Oct 22 2004 11:14PM GMT
Microsoft fixes date for desktop search tool
CNET News.com Oct 22 2004 9:28PM GMT
Yahoo Adds to E-mail, RSS Assets
ClickZ Today Oct 22 2004 2:40PM GMT

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