Beyond411 Local Search: Customized Mobile Search

It's certainly simple enough to search the Internet via sites like Yahoo using Web-enabled mobile phones, but what sets Beyond411 Local Search (formerly Berry411) apart, is its ability to search beyond Web pages indexed by Yahoo to include search for local business listings, online telephone directories, maps, and more.

Beyond411

Users preset locations--like your home or work--and then type what they're looking for and the application provides a listing of the closest options. It can even calculate driving directions based on preset locations or use GPS to determine current locations. (Note: The Beyond411 site says the GPS service only works in the U.S. and is not available on Verizon BlackBerrys.)

To reduce the number of keystrokes needed, Beyond411 "guesses" what a user wants. For example, if you type "Best B" it will offers up a set of options with "Best Buy" atop the list. The application supports BlackBerry address book integration and can add search results to users' address books or e-mail them in the form of v-cards. Beyond411 can also help identify the best prices on item at local retailers using the Yokel shopping search service. And a set of external plug-ins, for flight status tracing, stock information and eBay bidding are also available on the Beyond411 site.

Other options: A number of other mobile applications include bits and pieces of the above functionality, like RIM's BlackBerry Maps, but Beyond411 packs it all into one easy to use package.

WorldMate Live: Make Those Flight Cancellations/Delays Less Painful

WorldMate Live is a mobile service meant to simplify the lives of frequent travelers by automatically delivering content and services to mobile devices. Free features available include the My Itineraries function, which stores information on flights, hotels, meetings, public transportation and car rentals on BlackBerrys. The application also lets users export travel information from booking confirmation e-mails, corporate calendars and more, directly into WorldMate Live, and it automatically assembles their itineraries.

WorldMate Live on BlackBerry

The application's "Clocks" feature provides the current time and weather for one set location, as well as the time differences in four additional cities of the user's choice. The Weather function offers a five day forecast for any major city, and the currency converter quickly translates U.S. dollars into Euros or Japanese yen and back again.

Finally, a full color, searchable map of the world provides locations of cities as well as the date and time of day in each selected location.

That sums up the free version. The best WorldMate Live features are available only to folks with fee-based Gold Memberships, such as real-time flight alerts, flight notifications and meeting notifications and alternatives to cancelled or delayed flights.