Google India Offers Text Messaging Service

Google India, the Indian subsidiary of the world's largest search engine, Tuesday launched the beta version of its short messaging service (SMS) for mobile users in India for accessing information on the move without an Internet-enabled phone or a computer.

The company said in a statement that through the service (GoogleT search), users could get business listings, movie show timings and more by sending a text message to 54664 from their mobile phones.

"The latest offering is part of our mobile strategy in the sub-continent, where text messaging has become a part of daily life. With mobile service providers adding over a million subscribers a month, we intend to offer them a quick and easy way to get the information from anywhere and anytime," Google India products head Vinay Goel said.

The service is currently made available on Airtel, Aircel, BPL, BSNL and Reliance networks, with relevant local data for mobile users in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Carriers' premium text messaging rates apply.

To search through Google SMS, the user has to key in what the required information is. Users can also save time by identifying their locations, which will then be stored.

The company has an online demo on how to use the hi-tech service.