Google Phone Search India: The 2009 Voice Service and What to Use Now

Google Phone Search was a free toll-free service Google piloted in India: you dialled a number from any phone, spoke your query, and got local business details, movie show times or flight status by SMS. We covered it in February 2009 when it expanded to Mumbai and Bangalore. Here is how it worked, what happened to it, and how to search by voice in India today.

Quick answer: Google Phone Search was a free voice search line in India (1-800-41-999-999) that sent results by SMS. Google treated it as a labs experiment and shut it down around April 2010, pointing users to voice search in its mobile app. Today you can use voice search in the Google app, Google Assistant or Google Maps on any smartphone.

How Google Phone Search worked in India

In 2009 you could dial the toll-free number 1-800-41-999-999 from any landline or mobile phone to voice search for local businesses, movie show times and flight status, and get the results by SMS. The service was completely free of charge.

• Cities: it started as a pilot in Hyderabad and Delhi, then expanded to Mumbai and Bangalore. In Delhi it covered the whole National Capital Region, including Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.
• Languages: English, Hindi and Telugu.
• Human backup: speech recognition was still developing, so after two failed attempts to understand you, the call moved to a local operator. You could also press 9 to talk to an operator between 8 am and midnight every day.
• Data source: business listings came from Google’s local search, so we advised business owners to add their business to Google’s Local Business Center.

It was still in its pilot stage, so a few errors were expected. For people with basic phones and no mobile internet, it was a genuinely useful way to find a local shop or check a flight.

What happened to Google Phone Search

In April 2010 Google announced it would phase out Google Phone Search in India, calling it a labs experiment that had helped it learn what users needed and improve speech recognition. Reports at the time said the line had already been switched off, and Google pointed users to voice search in its mobile app, which was built to handle Indian accents. Google’s similar US service, GOOG-411, closed in November 2010.

The number 1-800-41-999-999 no longer reaches Google, so don’t rely on old listings that still mention it.

How to use Google voice search in India today

Everything Google Phone Search did is now built into smartphones, and works in many Indian languages:

• Google app (external site): tap the microphone in the search bar and speak your question, for example “chemists open near me” or “flight status AI 101”.
• Google Assistant (external site): on Android, say “Hey Google” or long-press the home or power button (depending on your phone), then ask.
• Google Maps (external site): tap the microphone in the search box to find businesses, opening hours and phone numbers nearby, plus live traffic in Indian cities.
• Chrome on a computer: see our guide to Google voice search on desktop.

In 2019 Google also announced a phone line for Google Assistant in India with Vodafone Idea, aimed at people without smartphones or data. Check with your operator whether it is available on your connection before relying on it.

For business owners: get found in Google searches

Just as in 2009, voice and local results come from Google’s business listings. The old Local Business Center is now Google Business Profile (external site). Claim your listing, add correct hours, phone number and photos, and keep it updated so voice searches find you.

FAQ

Is Google Phone Search still available in India?

No. Google shut down the toll-free Google Phone Search line around April 2010.

What replaced Google Phone Search?

Voice search in the Google app, Google Assistant and Google Maps on smartphones, which do the same job with results on screen instead of SMS.

Which languages does Google voice search support in India?

English, Hindi and many other Indian languages. Choose your language in the Google app or Assistant settings.

How do I add my business so voice search finds it?

Create or claim a free Google Business Profile and keep your address, hours and phone number accurate.