Abstract: A computer system and method for allowing a user to request location-based information about businesses in a given area. The user accesses a location-based service over a global computer network, such as the Internet, from a client device. Examples of client devices used to access the service include Internet and/or SMS enabled cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and laptops. The user creates a text message, email message, or other message that includes one or more identifiers of the geographic area the user is interested in, as well as one or more search terms about the particular type of business the user is looking for. The system then receives the message request from the user and looks up the businesses that meet the geographic and search criteria in a database. The results of the search are then returned and displayed to the user on the client device.