Infospace's new contract with Verizon Puerto Rico casts doubt upon the presumption that Infospace and Verizon will have no meaningful relationship going into the future:
InfoSpace Powers Verizon Wireless Puerto Rico's Launch of WAP, SMS and Speech-Enabled Wireless Data Services Services Include Two-Way SMS and Speech-Enabled SMS Alerts
BELLEVUE, Wash. & SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2002--InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq:INSP - News), a provider of wireless and Internet software and application services, today announced that the Company is providing its wireless software services and applications for the launch of WAP, SMS and Speech-enabled data services by Verizon Wireless Puerto Rico, the wireless business of Puerto Rico Telephone.
"We needed a single partner who could provide a flexible foundation and core set of applications for our wireless data offering, alleviating the time and expense needed to maintain relationships with several partners and establish smooth interoperability between them," said Bobbi de Winter, VP and general manager at Verizon Wireless Puerto Rico. "InfoSpace's wireless solutions are helping us to quickly and cost effectively deploy a mobile data service to our customers under the Verizon Wireless brand that is seamless, personalized and helps drive new revenue streams."
The launch includes a wide range of Spanish-language messaging, entertainment and personalized information services that are innovative and easy to use. InfoSpace's multi-modal wireless solutions enable these services to be provisioned and accessed over a wide range of devices on Verizon Wireless Puerto Rico's network, including WAP and two-way SMS capable phones, as well as legacy handsets.
For example, InfoSpace's mobile-originated SMS services make it fast and easy for users of two-way SMS-capable devices to request specific information at any given moment with just a few taps on the keypad of their mobile phone. InfoSpace's aliasing technology further minimizes input by allowing a user to preset abbreviated commands for the information they access most frequently.
In addition, InfoSpace Speech services offer subscribers the ability to create and modify time and event-based SMS alerts quickly and easily by simply speaking into their mobile phone using their natural voice. This technology not only makes these services easier to provision and access, but it allows users of almost any digital mobile device to activate and personalize the services directly from their handset, without having to log on to a personal computer.
"We are pleased to see momentum building for our wireless solutions in Central and South America and it was a pleasure working closely with the excited and well prepared team that is launching a very compelling program aimed the young community of Puerto Rico," said Jan Claesson, InfoSpace executive vice president, wireless. "The exceptional work done by Verizon Wireless Puerto Rico highlights the multi-modal capabilities of our wireless solutions. Our multi-modal approach enables the delivery of services across multiple standards and devices, helping our carrier partners to drive uptake and usage of value-added data services, reduce churn and build stronger brands." |
