This is sad because this is one of the only technologies my mom is comfortable with using. She uses this service on almost a daily basis. When I called her and told her about this story, she asked if there was some way to call them up and complain about it. I know Google is notorious for not having very good customer service, but does anyone know if there is a number she could call?
Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
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Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#22TANSTAAFL I try to keep this in mind with respect to all "free" products, including others from Google. E.g. Google Apps Standard: Nice while it lasts, but don't invest in its sticking around.
I always love a TANSTAAFL reference
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#23TANSTAAFL I try to keep this in mind with respect to all "free" products, including others from Google. E.g. Google Apps Standard: Nice while it lasts, but don't invest in its sticking around.
Google Apps Standard might be different. Google Apps Standard is offering you the same thing that Google already offers for free, just using your own domain. It still has ads and such. As such, as long as Gmail, Google Calendar, etc. remain profitable, then Gmail for your domain, Google Calendar for your domain, etc. should have the same level of profitability (and cost). The additional service that Google is offerin…
Whether it's Apps Standard, or Voice, or something else. I meant my point more generally; if you aren't paying for it, somebody is, and they may decide to stop.
Apps Standard has been on my mind because it is currently a useful solution for a few small businesses I know, but I caution them about becoming over-reliant.
(I've argued the cost efficiency of Premier, but they are watching every nickle and dime, at present. Hopefully, if the free Standard version does go away, Premier or similar will remain -- I mean, Google's been been engaging in large, long term Apps contracts with outfits quite capable of "lawyering up" -- and at a price that is manageable.
I know: I'd just plunk down the money, for something that is business critical. But, it's not my call. Their initial use is not business critical, but that's a slippery slope.)
P.S. I haven't researched nor thought it through, but my perception of Voice has been as a partial workaround and/or escape hatch for carrier lock in. For the time being, it helps keep the pressure on.
Longer term? Well, rumors are that Google has invested in a LOT of backbone capacity. Voice may be a step in capturing interactive content transfer, and the advertising/marketing niches that exist both within it and from analysis of resulting meta-data. It may also offer some direct revenue; they already charge (U.S. customers) for foreign calls.
Hmm... will Google roll out a SIP telecommunications service, at some point, to go along with their professional Apps offers? (Maybe the regulation would be far too hairy; otherwise, it would seem a likely cross marketing opportunity, at least until such communications become more fully integrated into a more general communications paradigm, if ever.)
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#24Well this stinks both because I used it all the time, and it completely shuts out non-smartphone users from those services.
Better ask for your money back, then. Okay, to be serious though: this service never made it to Canada so I only got to use it once while visiting the USA. It sounded pretty cool and I know you'll miss it. Seeing as this is HN, though, this is an obvious opening for a startup right? I mean, Google clearly doesn't think the service was worthwhile but much of HN is lamenting its loss.
Is it an obvious opening for a startup? How would you generate revenue?
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#25This is sad because this is one of the only technologies my mom is comfortable with using. She uses this service on almost a daily basis. When I called her and told her about this story, she asked if there was some way to call them up and complain about it. I know Google is notorious for not having very good customer service, but does anyone know if there is a number she could call?
Google is (believe it or not) working on being more accessible to customers, but no, right now, there isn't a number she can call. It's sad that people like your mom are disappointed, and there are plenty more like her out there, but calling up isn't going to change anything :(
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#26Haven't used it for a while but I have fond memories of that silly fetch audio and trying to convince the system i mean Tom Thumb not Tom Tom Asian Grill.
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#27bing 411
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#28I think Google are actually really brave to do this and I for one am proud of them. Lots of corporate companies keep around products in zombie states for years because they are afraid of shutting stuff down and upsetting customers.
Google provides lots of free services and I think it's awesome that they try stuff, innovate and then pull out when it's not working for them.
I think it's good they gave everyone a month's notice and provided a txt based alternative. It would have been nice if they'd also pointed to some voice alternatives provided by "competitors" though.
Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#29Re: Goodbye to an old friend: 1-800-GOOG-411
#30Never used GOOG-411, I've always found the GOOGLE text service more convenient, but its strange to see them shut it down. I guess not that many users?