mocoblog

Verizon + SuperPages = SMS Ripoff (Use Google SMS, 46645)

I must have missed this Verizon and SuperPages press release announcing SuperPages On the Go.

Using a Verizon Wireless phone, text messagers can get movie show times, weather forecasts and reverse number look up, in addition to residential and business phone numbers and addresses.
Just send a text message from a TXT messaging-capable Verizon Wireless phone to S-U-P-E-R (78737) and enter the ZIP code for weather, or the landline phone number to see who just called. Or enter the movie, business or resident’s name and the selected area (city/state or ZIP code) to locate them or get the phone number.
The first two queries are free. Subsequent queries are 30 cents each, with no monthly access charges.

Thirty cents per search! With GoogleSMS, you can get the same data for free. In fact, Google’s text from the reverse lookup of my home phone number as well as my local Starbucks was nearly identical to that from SuperPages. On the flipside, at $.30 it is still cheaper than Verizon’s 411 services.

My advice to you is to try Google SMS services first. Google supposedly is in the market for a directory services company. However, my rudimentary testing of their service indicates that they don’t have too many information gaps to fill. Let’s hope the Google SMS Service, which is still in “beta” according to their website, remains without premium text message charges. It is, by leaps and bounds, the fastest way to get information to your phone; faster than WAP or Java/Brew applets. (Assuming you can text speedily of course.)

Read the full press release (via Phonemag)