For info on the go, just text 4INFO

May 15, 2008, by itsnearme

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You're out and about and decide to see a movie but there is no newspaper or computer around to check movie times. You can call 411, ask for a movie theater's number, listen to a recording and write down the times and locations, but it's much easier to use 4INFO - an on-the-go location-based service which lets you search and receive location-relevant information using text messages.

4INFO is a query based quick information service similar to Google SMS. It's available in the US and doesn't require any registration, application downloads or special pricing plans (although having a text messaging plan is recommended). 4INFO turns mobile phones to powerful location-aware devices by providing relevant local information such as weather, business and residential listings, movie times, news, and much more.

Users simply text a query and their location to 4INFO (44636) and within seconds they receive a location-relevant text reply. Users can text the letter 'm' and their zip code (for example: 'm 10001') and 4INFO will return a list of all movie theaters in and around that particular location. Users can register on the 4INFO Web site to receive scheduled mobile alerts about interesting events, weather, Craigslist listings by location or up-to-date general information such as sports scores, news, or stocks.

When we compared 4INFO with Google SMS most of the results were similar. However, we found 4INFO to be more efficient for checking movie times because the results are returned by theater location (rather than by movie title when using Google SMS). Yet when checking for flight times, Google SMS results were superior to 4INFO's. By using flightstats.com data, Google SMS is able to notify users of delayed or canceled flights while 4INFO could not provide any information on delays.

A significant limitation of 4INFO is that users need to enter their location in order to receive location-based information. Adding a location-aware technology, such as a GPS, would make 4INFO a perfect location-based service.

How to use this service?

• Weather:
  Text: w + zip code of city
  Example:'w 10011'
  

• Flight Arrival/Departure:
  Text: Airline + flight number
  Example: 'swa 197' (South West Airlines flight 197)
  Text: Airline + dept. and arr. cities
  Example: 'ual chicago sf' (United Airlines from Chicago to San Francisco)
  Text: Airline + airport codes
  Example: 'aa mci ord' (American Airlines from Kansas City to Chicago O'Hard)
  

• Movie times:
  Text: movie or m + zip code of city
  Example: 'movie 10011'
  (text received: list of movie theaters in zip code, need to reply with number corresponding to theater location desired)
  

For a complete list of available search options click here

Pros:

• information anywhere, anytime
• movie times by theater
• fast and free

Cons:

• manual location entry by zip code
• can be text intensive (do not use while driving)
• some services are useless (celebrity gossip)

Check it out: www.4info.net

What's the damage? Free

Coverage area: USA

Access requirements: Mobile phone

ItsNearMe rating: 4 out of 5