Google launched a new voice-search app for the iPhone on Friday. The search giant is finally cashing in on its free 411 phone service. As some speculated when it launched, Goog-411 has turned into something more than just a money-losing information service. Goog-411 helps Google collect a variety of samples to construct a voice-guided search-engine application.

I wonder if Google will attach a short, verbal AdWords-like advertisement to these searches? Local search, especially as connected to cell phones and increasingly as linked to the phones’ GPS services, is a HUGE developing market. Imagine having your ad included as a sponsored result for someone’s voice search. “Nick’s Pizza Shack. Just 10 minutes from you in beautiful downtown Akron. Press 1 to call for reservations.” The possibilities are amazing.

Update: And the whole thing is in limbo.

Apple added third-party software abilities to the newest iPhone operating system edition. Now users can download various applications without having to jail break their phones. The new App Store is raking in $1 million a day and CEO Steve Jobs would like to see it grow to a billion dollar a year business.

So, is Apple making money off of it? (more…)

Update (July 30, 2008): It works.

I use Google Analytics to track the traffic on this site and a couple others. Because I like to tweak, my tweak-then-page-reloads often show up in the reports.

I think I found a way to exclude myself from the numbers by using a cookie and filter. I’ll have to give the numbers a look over in a few days to see if this works.