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Comments (9)
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Save/ShareStarting Monday July 16, in New York City, L.A. and San Francisco, you can get driving directions delivered to your cell phone via a text message.
Here's how it works: You first call 347/328-4667 ("Directions" spelled on a keypad).
Next, say where you are, whether it's a street address or an intersection.
Then you just name your destination, which can be a street address, intersection, or business name, such as Starbucks.
You'll immediately receive a text-message with point-to-point directions. The free service is from new outfit called Dial Directions and the info comes from MapQuest. Luckily, you don't need a fancy smart phone to use the service. Any dumb phone will do.
Plus, outside of your cell phone provider's charges, there's no cost for getting information via text message.
I tested the service and found that the point-to-point directions were easy-to-follow.
One downside is that when you call 347/328-4667, you have to talk to a computer instead of a real person. If you hate that type of experience, you won't like this service. But I found that the computer understood words with a high degree of accuracy.
(Cartoon: DialDirections.com)
Related: More tips on maximizing your phone.
Earlier:
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Wow! You mean I no longer have to drive around looking for a person with a non-theatening appearance when I get lost? Kinda takes all the fun out of it. Still, my children thank you for this tip!
Posted By Marilyn Terrell on July 16, 2007, 6:16 AM
Directions at the tip of your fingers sounds great to me. No need to invest in all those other gadgets that sale for high dollar. Do you think men will use it? lol
Nancy
Posted By Nancy on July 16, 2007, 10:57 AM
Make sure your cell phone is not blocked off from showing your number as the site will not accept your call.
Posted By Vidor Nosce on July 16, 2007, 5:54 PM
you've been able to do this via text message for years using google sms.
Posted By naomi on July 17, 2007, 12:44 PM
Hello, All,
Thanks for your helpful comments.
Naomi, You're absolutely right about Google allowing you to send a text message and receive directions by text message. As Budget Travel reported in its July/August issue, "For basic driving directions, text "[place or zip] to [place or zip]"--for example, "phoenix az to 86336." Budget Travel has covered this before a few times, including here:
http://www.budgettravelonline.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/02/23/AR2006022301519.html
You can even CALL Google. 1-800-GOOG-411. Details here:
http://labs.google.com/goog411/
Another company, Tellme, offers a similar service. 1-800-555-TELL is a voice-driven system that's free and provides voice-prompt directions.
Regards,
Sean
(Blog editor)
Posted By Sean O'Neill on July 17, 2007, 2:33 PM
It's grand that google voice is at last out of beta and everyone can just sign up for it even if they didn't have an invitation available. I am already fiddling around with its different features and finding what I can do with it. Thanks google!
Posted By Morgan Hawthrone on June 23, 2010, 12:17 AM
Vielen Dank für dieses Blog-es ist toll! Ich mag diese Art von Menschen, die Wissen mit anderen zu teilen.
Posted By wypadek on March 6, 2012, 10:55 AM
Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich lesen Blogs genießen, aber dieser Artikel ermutigten mich. Thx
Posted By mialem wypadek on March 6, 2012, 9:44 PM
Es ist unglaublich. Ich war für die Website wie diese für eine lange Zeit gesucht und ich endlich gefunden!
Posted By wypadek on March 7, 2012, 7:25 PM