V-Enable, the leading search and enhanced directory assistance provider for cell phones called FreeMobile411, has raised around $1.1 million of $2.2 million in its current round of funding, according to VentureBeat. V-Enable, the San Diego based startup, was founded by wireless experts from mobile giants Nokia, Motorola and CISCO.
FreeMobile411 is available either as a downloadable voice search application or in the browser of the cell phone. Although the service seems to be good, it is competing with the search giants like Google, which already has 1-80-GOOG-411, and Yahoo which has its offering of mobile known as oneSearch.
FreeMobile411 contains around 140 million housing listings which means that they are not restricted to the business listings only. The service also connects you to a live operator if you’re having some issues with the usual service but that is not free. Furthermore the voice service is only supported by a very few communication services which includes AllTell, MetroPCS and Sprint. This means that if you have an iPhone, you can’t avail this service.
In the earlier round of venture funding, the company raised $20 million. The company is backed by its current investors which includes Palisades Ventures, Softbank Capital and Sorrento Ventures. Further information is not yet disclosed.
