Google 411 Skype Hack

by The Skog

I recently read an article on informationleak.net involving the use of Google 411 to make free phone calls to businesses that are searchable via Google Maps.

It spoke mainly about registering a business name on Google's Local Business Center for the sole purpose of being able to call the business number over Google 411.

The idea is to call toll-free from a payphone, using the Google 411 service to call the designated cellular number.  Using this concept, you can register a business with Google Maps and Google 411 and call the number from Skype, without purchasing or using SkypeOut.

Below are the steps one would go through in order to make this possible.

Registering a Business with Google 411

You will need an account with Google.

If you already have a Gmail account, you can use that.  With your Google account, you will be able to set up your business info.

The URL to Google Local Business Center is www.google.com/local/add.

Once you're logged in to that site, an "Add new business" link will appear on the screen.

It's that simple, and it's free.

Picking a Business Name

When registering the info on your "business," you'll want to make sure that you use a unique name and an unpopular category, so that Google 411 can filter it easily by business if it has trouble understanding you.

The reason behind this is if you have a business name that's in a highly populated area, you can bet that when you search for something generic like "Tennis Supplies," you'll have lots of results.

Google 411 uses Google Maps to narrow its search results, so if it has trouble understanding what you're saying, it's going to ask for just the city and state, then the business type or business name.

If your business name isn't in the top eight in the search results, Google 411 won't find your business and this trick will not work.

Also, make sure the ZIP Code is a valid one in the state you register it under.  Google Maps won't list your business if the ZIP Code doesn't exist in the state where your business is.

Don't give your business a name that's complicated, just a unique one.

When it asks for the business phone number, put phone number you want to call over Google 411.  And remember, you can always change the info later if you mess up the first time around.

Your business may take 12-24 hours to show up when you register it.  After that, when you edit it, it may only take a few minutes for the changes to appear.

Connecting the Call Over Skype

Okay, so you have your business set up and it's showing up on Google Maps when you search for it.

All you have to do now is Google 411 your business over Skype.

For those who don't know the number, it's: 1-800-GOOG411 or 1-800-466-4411

You've just connected to a phone number through Skype without using SkypeOut minutes!

Enjoy!