The era of sketching directions on paper may soon be over with the help of startup company DialDirections.com. It is the first voice-activated phone service that empowers mobile users to call and ask for directions to any address, store destination or public event, and receive directions by text message instantly.

Of course the best part of any technology - it's FREE! Mobile users simply need to dial DIR-ECT-IONS (347-328-4667), request the direction you want to go to, and you will receive it via text message. No need to download any software at all.

This phone service is currently available in six new metro areas, including Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia and Las Vegas.

So far, the only drawback I see is the cell phone ban currently in effect. Then again, it would not hurt if you stop for a while and wait for the text message to come in (it takes less than a minute by the way) before you start driving again.

A good offshoot of this technology is a version for commuters, which is similar with Google Transit.