Dial Directions teams up with 1-800-FREE411
Dial Directions of Alameda has been a cool little wireless player, offering people free text message directions on their cell phone through voice activation. What the company has been pushing to do though is partner with other players that can show off its ability.
Enter Jingle Networks of Menlo Park, the people behind 1-800-FREE411. The two companies are teaming up, combining their services so mobile users can get their directory assistance and their directions from one source.
Here's how it works: You call 1-800-FREE411 and go through the ad-supported directory assistance. When you get to your listing you'll have the option of getting the turn-by-turn directions text messaged to you. You just enter in your starting location, either an address or some cross streets, and the directions come to you within seconds. And it's all free as long as you don't mind an add tacked on to the end of your text message.
It makes a lot of sense to put the two together. You can still get your directions by literally dialing the word "directions" at (347-328-4667). But this puts it all into one place.
The service goes live March 1 in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago. Within 30 days after that, it will go nationwide. Expect to see other directory assistance services sign up with Dial Directions in the future.
| February 20 2008 at 08:00 AM
