• by January 28, 2005

Yesterday, Amazon's A9 subsidiary introduced a local search tool that offers still images of local businesses. It seems that Yahoo! also unveiled a new local search tool yesterday that allows consumers to send restaurant and business information in the form of text messages to cell phones.

It's a cool feature and one that makes a lot of sense. How many times do we forget the address of a restaurant and walk blocks out of our way until we break down and call directory assistance?

Yahoo! makes it pretty easy. All you have to do is search for the address and phone number, then click on a link to send the information to your wireless phone. The information is transmitted as a short text message.

So, instead of having to dial your area code plus 555-1212 to get the 411 when you're out in the street freezing your tail off, just think how great it is to already have the 411. Now that's a consumer benefit.

Yahoo!'s service is available through all major wireless providers at no charge, but the providers are likely to charge consumers for receiving the text messages.