HYDERABAD, Oct. 10: Google today launched its SMS service for mobilephone users in India, its USP being it would bring information to the mobile in a jiffy, even if the set is not Internet-enabled.
“With the Google SMS mobile messaging service, users can avail of business listings, movie show timings, weather reports and currency converters by simply sending a text message to 54664 [5GOOG] from their mobile phones.
“The service is available on Airtel, Aircel, BPL, BSNL and Reliance networks. It has relevant local data for mobile users in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore,” Google’s communication manager, Mr Roli Agarwal, said.
The development comes amid worldwide speculation on whether Google would launch its own mobile phone. Yesterday, it bought a Finland-based start-up, Jaiku, which makes mobile phone applications for text messaging. Google has declared it is willing to cough up $4.6 billion in the January auction for buying the 700 Mega Hertz spectrum in the USA. It will be the biggest spectrum auction in history.
“There is no denying the importance of text messaging in India and the Google SMS launch is a natural next step for our mobile strategy. Millions of mobile users are being added every month, and Google SMS will provide them a quick and easy way to get the information they need,” Google India’s head of products, Mr Vinay Goel, said.
Google SMS allows searches by common locality names and ranks results by proximity to the specified location. For instance, if one sends a message (pizza Connaught Circus, Delhi) a list of pizza stores will be sent to the phone, the first being the one closest in the area.
The same applies for a film. (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Begumpet, Hyderabad) will give the user the halls and the show’s timings. This is a paid service. Aircel, Reliance and BPL users need to pay Rs 3 for every message, while Airtel users pay Rs 2. BSNL post-paid customers would be charged 80 paise and pre-paid Re 1.
