Snippets of Google's search results available via text message. The service, called Google SMS, is currently only available in the US.
Users can text a word or phrase to Google's number, and Google will text them back with the the results of their query. So far as I can tell, this snippet will be similar to the information you would see on a Google search results web page, before you click on any of the links to go to the source sites.
It is difficult to say how useful this service would be. Google explains that if, for example, you texted "G population San Francisco" to its number (you have to put "G" before the search terms), you would get a result texted back saying "San Francisco Population. Population: 728,921 (1992); Population ...".
Now, if do a Google search on the web for San Francisco Population, you will see that the snippet is taken from the first search result. Presumably this is where the snippet comes from.
As one observer put it, this could signal the end of the pub quiz! But would it really? In my view, the snippets can't be relied upon to provide answers. For example, try typing "Ireland population" or "population of Ireland" or "population of Ireland 2004" into Google. The first result wouldn't provide any real answer.
As well as snippets, however, users can make more specific requests for dictionary definitions, business addresses and product prices (taken from Froogle).
It remains to be seen whether many people will find this service useful. Personally, I'll be surprised if Google SMS takes off. Then again, I was surprised that SMS ever took off in the first place!
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