On Search Engine Land, Greg Sterling explains, “In principle, this is comparable to enhanced directory assistance/mobile voice search services being offered in the US by Tellme, 1-800-YellowPages, Jingle Networks and Google (Goog411) but it’s a much broader service.”

Coincidentally, GOOG-411 is getting a share of the spotlight following Click-to-Call’s death.  And Exalead is involved in Quaero, a would-be Google-killer.  Small world, huh?  (Quaero is also associated with Theseus, which has been in the news lately, but this connection is a little more tenuous.)

In any case, “Users in France pay for 118 128 . . . like traditional directory assistance in the US,” according to Sterling.  “By contrast, the services above (Tellme, et al) are all ad-supported – or will be.  In addition to mobile voice search, 118 128 also offers a companion, Internet local search and shopping site.”

On the ExaBlog, there are promises of faster and more accurate search, which should benefit users of 118 218.  And this development should grant Exalead, which is based in France, an even stronger foothold in that country.