Google shuts down SMS Search service

Google's SMS Search helped users to get results on queries by just sending a text message

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: In a clandestine move, Google has apparently decided to bring the curtains down on its SMS-based search service.

The issue cropped up towards the end of last week - either on Thursday or Friday - and reportedly some users of the service got a message, stating: "SMS search has been shutdown. You can continue to search the web at google.com on any device."

Subsequently, the SMS Search page returned an error, though the home page continued to stay up and live.

Google's SMS Search helped users to get search results on queries including currency conversions, weather and local listings, by just sending a text message to 466453. They would, in turn, get their results in an SMS from Google. So, basically it was of great help to users without any smart devices or data package subscriptions, and basic phones.

TechCrunch reports that Google's other SMS products that let you check your calendar, update your Blogger blog, check your Gmail, and send and receive SMS text messages through Google Voice, appeared to still be working; but users will inevitably start wondering, if these will be next on the chopping block.

By Friday, it was a hot topic of discussion on Google's Product Forums, with many disgruntled users venting out their ire over no prior notice or warning from the search giant.

It prompted presumably Google employee, Jessica S, to come up with a clarification:

Hi everyone,

Closing products always involves tough choices, but we do think very hard about each decision and its implications for our users. Streamlining our services enables us to focus on creating beautiful technology that will improve people's lives.

Thanks,
Jess

But whether it is going to pacify the unhappy users or not is not clear yet. It might be remembered that Google announced in March that it would shut down Google Reader as of July 1.