New Zealand’s leading directory services company appoints mobile search partners
Copenhagen, Denver, 15 October 2007 – Yellow Pages Group™, New Zealand’s leading directory publisher, today announced that they will launch their WAP2.0 mobile search service in conjunction with mobilePeople and Local Matters.
The new mobile offering will be based on mobilePeople’s liquid™ platform and will enable New Zealanders using the Vodafone live! mobile service to benefit from a wealth of local information accessible on their mobile phones – through directory search. Yellow Pages Group’s solution will be browser based and seamlessly integrate into Vodafone live! It will combine directory listings from Yellow™, a local map application and even give directions to a chosen destination.
Jens Andersen, CEO and co-founder of mobilePeople, commented: “The rapid adoption of mobile search has created a huge opportunity for directory publishers in New Zealand to monetize through mobile search based advertising strategies.”
Yellow Pages Group Marketing Director Blair Glubb said the mobile service would complement the company’s existing range of find-it services for businesses which already cover the print, voice (directory assistance) and online channels.
“Significantly, this development will provide businesses with a way to connect with Vodafone live! customers who want to find-it while they’re on the go. We chose to work with Local Matters and mobilePeople as the companies are clearly the best of breed suppliers - and our culture, experience and vision marry up well. This is a big step for us and will help us realise our goal of being New Zealand’s number one find-it resource”, said Mr Glubb.
The solution will be integrated with the Local Matters-powered local search engine, to deliver an integrated online and mobile solution for Yellow Pages Group. Perry Evans, CEO of Local Matters concluded: “We’re excited to see the extended usage into mobile services in cooperation with mobilePeople. Multi-modal implementations are becoming increasingly important, and we are pleased to see Yellow Pages Group take a leadership position in this arena.”
Further details of the developments of the offering will be announced over the coming months.
About Local Matters
Local Matters, Inc., with more than 40 customers in 18 countries, provides specialized technology products and media services that enable Yellow Pages publishers and 411 service providers to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the local search market. Local Matters' products and services are designed to enable its clients to deliver improved online and voice-based local search services, creating expanded advertising and other revenue opportunities. Visit the company at
www.localmatters.com
About Yellow Pages Group
Yellow Pages Group was formed in 1988 and publishes the print and online directories for Yellow™ and White Pages® as well as the Local Directories™. Each year Yellow Pages Group is responsible for printing and distributing more than 6 million directories – 18 regional editions of Yellow™ and White Pages® and 22 editions of Local Directories™ across New Zealand. Yellow Pages Group also publishes the New Zealand Retirement Guide and owns New Zealand Tourism Online (NZTO), an award-winning online tourism directory. It also provides the 018 and 0172 directory assistance service. Yellow Pages Group aims to be New Zealand's number one find-it resource. For more information please visit
www.yellowpagesgroup.co.nz
About mobilePeople
mobilePeople is the global leader in local mobile search and advertising solutions for directory publishers. The company builds mobile presence, distribution and advertising for directory publishers utilising its award winning white label solution liquid™. There is a dual offering – a WAP solution and a downloadable Java application. mobilePeople drives user stickiness by providing the most intuitive, relevant and comprehensive mobile search experience.
Today mobilePeople processes millions of local mobile searches every month in eight languages; English, Portuguese, Dutch, German, French, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish. Global customers include; Yell.com (UK), Gouden Gids (NL), Promedia (BE), Golden Pages (IE), Páginas Amarelas (PT), IT2Media (DE), Schibsted Søk (NO), Schibsted Søk (SE), FAST Search and Transfer (NO), Sensis (AUS), Eniro (SE), Eniro (DK), Eniro (NO), EDC (DK), Yellow Pages Group (NZ), and Local Matters (USA).
With world headquarters in Copenhagen (DK) and regional offices in London (UK), Denver (US) and Melbourne (AUS), mobilePeople is a privately owned company.
For further information please visit
www.mobilepeople.com
