Comments on: Tellme offers free, voice-enabled search

By: Felipe

Felipe — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:32:25 +0000

Hello,

We have developed a similar solution but without requiring any downloads or setup. You simply call us, and our Mobile Helpers will search the web for you.

http://www.zypsy.com

We’re beta right now. Please send us your feedback!

Felipe

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:47:51 +0000

Cingular charges $1.79 per call to 411. I had the unfortunate experience that 6 times in a row, even when I said “agent” over and over until I was put through to a live agent I could not get a direct connection. I was driving and could not write down a number and then re-dial. I was furious; thanks for nothing – oh yeah and thanks for increasing my monthly bill by almost 25% in the process. So, any of the free services like Jingle or Tellme get my vote.

By: eric

eric — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:14:56 +0000

Tellme is interesting, but the DNA of their company is not to acquire advertisers to support these apps. Cool technology, but tough to make the transition to media company from pure infrastructure

By: RK

RK — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 07:18:21 +0000

I have used it via Cingular for 411, this service extremely high word error rate, 1 out 3~4 times, I was transfered to live operator. So based on this I am presuming they will send 26% of there directions to a call center top get it transcribed and routed manually to there directions server. On Cingular 411 , I stopped using it, Now I use Jingle 411 it has same issue, but it is free, cingular cost’s money!

By: jp

jp — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 04:13:03 +0000

Tellme does 411 for verizon and cingular (as well as at&t toll free). I think that is where that 1 billion number came from.

RK, why do you think it is not ready prime time? have you used it much? not working?

By: RK

RK — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:33:55 +0000

No it is more like 500 million calls for 2 billion call, this is why Cingular is not making a big deal out of it. This also boils to Voice Rec tech word error rate, which is extremely high. Also this might mean if you want direction for main st in San Jose, CA. they may send you direction for some street in Santa Monica,CA . BTW cingular win’s either way as you will end up using data plan and paying, also it seems with this java applet they are not doing much of front end audio processing, this means you will be uploading voice stream data as well. does not look like it is ready for prime time!! still way’s to go.

By: ravi

ravi — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:27:53 +0000

If we go by the 1 Billion number, did their call center agents answer 240 million calls last year, does this sound right ?