Inovative Highly Targeted Marketing Channel for Local Businesses.
Press Releases1-800-FREE411 Launches Yellow Pages Search on the Phone New Service Enables Consumers to Locate a Business By Category and Creates a Highly Targeted Marketing Channel for Local and Online Businesses. March 20, 2007 - Menlo Park, Calif. Jingle Networks, Inc., operator of the 1-800-FREE411 directory assistance service, today announced the launch of Category Search - a new way to search the Yellow Pages from your phone. Consumers benefit from a free voice-based way to search for phone numbers and addresses by business type and location. With the introduction of Category Search, 1-800-FREE411 also offers national and local advertisers a new, highly targeted marketing vehicle for reaching millions of consumers who are ready-to-buy and looking for their type of business.1-800-FREE411 provides the same quality of service as paid directory assistance and was created for consumers who were frustrated with the steadily increasing costs of 411. The service has processed approximately 170 million calls to date, saving Americans $340 million since launching in September 2005. Reaching nearly 17 million calls in February 2007, consumers are already relying on 1-800-FREE411 as an alternative to paid 411 services.The addition of Category Search further simplifies the caller experience by enabling consumers to find a business that meets their needs without requiring the request for a specific business listing. Callers have the option to search, browse and connect to businesses from a list of relevant merchants across the nation using keywords similar to Internet search. Jingle's business category search offers thousands of different categories from restaurants and florists to plumbers and hospitals. In addition to the specific information requested, callers are presented with value-added opportunities such as discounts from relevant businesses."The addition of Category Search enhances the value of the service for consumers," said Greg Sterling, principal Sterling Market Intelligence. "It helps turn a more limited directory assistance model into true mobile local search."Category Search strengthens 1-800-FREE411's position as a marketing vehicle for small and local advertisers seeking to reach targeted consumers in a very interactive and measurable way. Advertising partners now have the opportunity to deliver a promotional message to the consumer who has identified their need and is ready to buy, but has not specified a brand or company. To date, more than 500 companies have utilized the 1-800-FREE411 network as a unique and powerful advertising medium for reaching consumers when they are in a ready-to-buy mode. Some of the companies taking advantage of the increased marketing benefits made possible by Category Search include 1-800-DENTIST, 1-800Mattress, Service Magic, AutoNation, Joe Nerd, Progressive Insurance, Saxton-Ferris and Service Master. In addition, leading local search service Citysearch and Pay Per Call® provider Ingenio have entered into relationships with Jingle Networks to enable their local advertisers to participate."With category search, we continue to shape 1-800-FREE411 into a service that truly meets the consumer demand for a free, anywhere, any phone alternative to paid 411," said George Garrick, president and CEO of Jingle Networks. "The demand we've already seen for Category Search fuels our confidence that the service will not only be beneficial to our callers, but will be especially valuable for local and regional advertisers who need to make sure their marketing dollars are used strategically and with the highest likelihood of generating a positive return."Availability
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One day, one of our founders looked at his phone bill and thought, "I hate paying for directory assistance. These fees are ridiculous." He then called another smart executive type who agreed. "You're right. Paying for phone numbers stinks. We should do something about it."Not long after, 1-800-FREE411 was born. It was the end of 411 charges, and the beginning of free directory assistance. Visit their website at: tp://free411.commissionriver.com/?crid=10827
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