Google has a new toy for us to play with called Google 411. By calling a toll free phone number you can locate a business in the area where you live. Google states on its Web site that:

Google Voice Local Search is Google’s experimental service to make local-business search accessible over the phone.
To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone.
Using this service, you can:

• search for a local business by name or category. You can say “Giovanni’s Pizzeria” or just “pizza”.
• get connected to the business, free of charge.
• get the details by SMS if you’re using a mobile phone. Just say “text message”.

And it’s free. Google doesn’t charge you a thing for the call or for connecting you to the business. Regular phone charges may apply, based on your telephone service provider.

Note: Google Voice Local Search is still in its experimental stage. It may not be available at all times and may not work for all users. We’re fine-tuning the service to get better at recognizing your requests. It’s currently only available in English, in the U.S., for U.S. business listings.

Does it work? I took it for a spin last night and found an Italian restaurant I wanted to check for its hours of operation. It is simple to use and should save you some time. Please note the limitations of the service. English only, U.S. businesses, and not available everywhere for now.

Give it a try and see what you think.

Comments welcome.

[tags]google, 411, search, simple[/tags]