google services

Google, brimming with capital after its IPO this past Fall, has been focusing on expanding its services beyond the search domain. Google Labs serves as a showcase for the companies works in progress, however, what you will find at Google Labs is not second rate, but some really powerful and interesting stuff. Here's a quick overview of two of the more polished services: Google Maps and Google SMS



Google recently made headlines when it expanded its map service to offer satellite images via Keyhole. Keyhole was purchased by Google about a year ago and specializes in streaming high quality, 3D, satellite imagery over the internet. The use of Keyhole's technology really makes Google maps stand apart from the competition. (Terra Server has offered outdated, black and white sattelite photos since 1998...but what else would you expect from a service powered by Microsoft?)

Check out Google maps if you have a chance. Explore your neighborhood from a birds eye view, or find the house you grew up in. If you get really into it and wanna go into stalker mode, the possibilities are endless...one guy claims to have found Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch

Below is a screen shot of the University of Delaware Campus as seen through Google Maps.

Here is the query for the shot below.





Google SMS is a free service which provides business and restaurant information, movie times, and weather, all via text message. All you have to do is send a text message to the number 46645 (GOOGL) with your query in the standard format. Check out the site for some more information on how to format queries...here is a printable reference sheet.

This service really comes in handy because you can get the same results you would by calling information, except its free (aside from any charges related to the test message itself). Also you have the phone number or whatever you requested stored on your cell phone for future reference.




Now a service like this is only as good as the information in its database, so I tried a sample query for restaurants in Newark, DE. I was surprised to receive a response less than a minute after I submitted my query. In addition, the information I received was correct, among the results were listings for Peace A Pizza and Cafe Gelato, both located right on main street in Newark, Delaware. Based on my experience I'd say Google SMS woks pretty well and will only get better, if you're in a bind and need some information quickly, check out Google SMS.