Mocoblog points out some idiocy from Verizon’s SuperPages directory service: a press release announcing that Verizon Wireless subscribers — for 30 cents each — can get directory information, movie times and weather for casts via text message.

So, let’s just briefly review for those of us that have missed Google SMS, Yahoo SMS, 4info and all the other similar services.

Verizon Superpages SMS:

- phone directory information, movie showtimes, weather

- easy-to-remember shortcode (SUPER)

- available only on Verizon Wireless

- 30 cents per message

Google SMS:

- directory information, movie showtimes, weather, driving directions, stock quotes, product prices, dictionary definitions, Google answers, calculator, area code lookup, zip code lookup, Google search results

- easy-to-remember shortcode (GOOGL)

- available on all major US carriers

- free

As Mocoblog says, compared to the $1.50 or so a Verizon Wireless sub would pay for a 411 call, it’s a bargain. But this smacks of old-school telco thinking: sure, it’s great idea to have an inferior product, available to a smaller market, up against a far superior free one with wider availability. I guess they think Google’s one of those fly-by-night dot-coms that will be gone in a little while anyway.