Tom Moertel's Weblog: Good stuff: Google Local for mobile devices

Good stuff: Google Local for mobile devices

Tom Moertel — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:14:00 -0500

While traveling in unfamiliar territory over the Thanksgiving holiday, I needed coffee. Bad. So I fired up my mobile phone’s web browser and surfed to Google Mobile. Just as I was about to submit a search to the Google Local web form, I noticed a link to something intriguing: Google Local for mobile devices (GLM).

Curious, I checked it out. I discovered that GLM is a Java applet that runs on your cell phone to provide a phone-optimized interface to Google Local’s servers. After a quick over-the-air download, I was ready to try it out.

I fired up the GLM applet and entered my query: “coffee elkin,nc.” In a few seconds, I had a clean, crisp map that showed a number of coffee shops. Pressing 1, 2, 3, and so on, I got the details for the various shops. When I found one I liked, I selected “Directions to here” from the details menu. Then I used my phone’s cursor keys to select a spot on the map that approximated my current location. After a few seconds of “Routing…” the map updated and plotted a path to coffee salvation. In a few minutes, I had a coffee in my hand and was back on the road.

The process was fast and painless. It just plain worked. I knew then and there that Google Local for mobile devices is good stuff.

Right now GLM is only available on Cingular and Sprint networks, and even then only for more-recent Java-based phones. [Update: In a comment, Mark points out that GLM works on some T-Mobile phones, too.] If my phone or network didn’t support GLM, I would seriously consider switching to a phone-network combo that did. GLM is that cool.

In any case, when your cell-phone contract is up, you ought to factor GLM into your renewal/switch plans. A cell phone with GLM is a heck of a lot more useful than one without it.

"Good stuff: Google Local for mobile devices" by Mark Denovich

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:37:09 -0500

Interesting. I wasn’t aware that they removed access to T-Mobile users. I guess they are just preventing the download of the client. I just checked and it still works for me (SE K750i and my wife’s SE 710a both on T-Mo)

—Mark

"Good stuff: Google Local for mobile devices" by Tom Moertel

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 13:21:29 -0500

Mark, thanks for the note on GLM being compatible with some T-Mobile phones. The GLM FAQ made me think otherwise:

Which phones does Google Local for mobile support? Local for mobile works with most Java-enabled (J2ME) mobile phones, especially those purchased within the past year; this includes phones offered by Cingular and Sprint. At this time, Local for mobile doesn’t support BREW-enabled phones (e.g. Verizon, Alltel, U.S. Cellular), Nextel phones, Blackberry devices or Palm devices. To see whether the application will work on your phone, simply visit http://www.google.com/glm/getstarted.html and answer a few questions about your mobile phone. Note: We have temporarily removed access to Local for mobile for users of the T-Mobile network. We are working closely with T-Mobile to quickly restore availability. Check back soon.

(Emphasis mine.)

—Tom

"Good stuff: Google Local for mobile devices" by Mark Denovich

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 10:02:28 -0500

I’ve been using GLM since it was released on my T-Mobile phone… GLM is certainly not exclusive to either Sprint or Cingular (although maybe those providers don’t charge for the data usage. Is that what you meant?)

I really appreciate the deisgn that went into the GLM interface. The addition of numbers next to menu items is so simple, but also so handy.

—Mark