Bellevue, Washington, United States
InfoSpace Inc. (NASDAQ:INSP), a leading developer of mobile technologies, today launched an upgrade to its mCore Managed Web solution, adding the ability to incorporate relevant banner ads and promotional links from a carrier's advertising network, providing advertisers with increased opportunities to reach subscribers with dynamic and relevant ads. mCore Managed Web 2.0 offers a high-quality, operator-managed Web experience and includes direct access to World Wide Web sites.
In conjunction with today's announcement, InfoSpace also released success metrics from Virgin Mobile's implementation of the mCore Managed Web. Since deploying the offering, Virgin Mobile has experienced a 50 percent increase in daily mobile search page views per user, with Managed Web now contributing to 60 percent of all of its mobile search traffic. The European carrier attributes these spikes in search activity to the more unified, simplified experience offered to users by deploying the full mCore suite of services.
"By providing our subscribers with an improved Web search experience, they're actually spending more time on our deck and drilling deeper into our storefront as well," said Nick White, head of digital services and NPD at Virgin Mobile. "We've grown our average revenue per user while reducing our operational costs. Needless to say that's a compelling value proposition in today's market."
Compared to the traditional process of finding and enjoying mobile content, which can seem fragmented and frustrating, the mCore Managed Web solution is designed to improve the user experience while expanding revenue opportunities for carriers. In addition to Virgin Mobile's increases in Web search activity, the carrier has experienced jumps in overall subscriber activity -- from downloads of graphics and games to ringtones and video.
"There is a lot of speculation about whether carriers can deliver a mobile Web experience that will compete with third-party offerings. Our partner's success shows that by bringing the Internet into a unified mobile search solution, carriers can deliver a superior, more powerful user experience and boost traffic across all services -- portal, Web, storefront and beyond," said Steve Elfman, executive vice president of InfoSpace's mobile business unit. "Carriers are embracing the opportunity to meet their customers' demands without sacrificing revenues, and we look forward to working with them to deliver customized solutions based on their individual needs."
New Features in mCore Managed Web 2.0
-- Integrating carrier's mobile advertising networks: By incorporating carrier's mobile advertising platform in the mCore Managed Web and search solution, subscribers will see relevant advertisements in the search results page, providing advertisers with increased opportunities to reach subscribers with dynamic and relevant ads.
-- Direct access to World Wide Web sites: To quickly access World Wide Web sites, subscribers can use the go-to-URL feature and type in a site's address.
-- Advanced Web site filter: Carriers can control which Web sites subscribers can access. For example, carriers can block Web sites with inappropriate content.
-- Page Map: A new page navigation mode was added, in which a graphical overview of a web page can be selected. The whole web page is displayed and is marked with numbered sections.
To learn more about Virgin Mobile's success with mCore Managed Web, download a copy of the case study located at www.infospaceinc.com/mobile/managedweb.
About mCore Mobile Services Platform
The InfoSpace mCore Platform is a suite of customizable mobile infrastructure services designed to help carriers offer their subscribers a seamless, intuitive experience for finding and enjoying mobile content and information on the go. The mCore Platform launched in June 2007 and has been deployed in part or as a whole on leading carriers including Virgin Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless. InfoSpace's mCore Mobile Search and Managed Web solutions incorporate technology from the company's recent partnerships with FAST Search & Transfer, a leading developer of search technologies, and InfoGin, a leader in the field of Web-to-mobile content adaptation.
About InfoSpace Mobile
InfoSpace Mobile, a wholly owned subsidiary of InfoSpace Inc., is a leading developer of mobile technologies and infrastructure services that help mobile users quickly and easily discover and enjoy content and information on the go. InfoSpace's mobile platform offers carrier partners a customizable, scalable solution for the programming and delivery of mobile content, helping build stronger brands and generate revenue. Mobile users benefit from InfoSpace's easy-to-use mobile portal, search, messaging and storefront offerings. The company's mobile products and services are available to over 200 million consumers through mobile operators such as AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and Virgin Mobile. In October, InfoSpace announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its mobile services business to Motricity, a privately held provider of mobile content services and solutions. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year, upon the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
Cautionary Note about Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements regarding InfoSpace's mobile technologies business, mCore(TM) Mobile Services Platform, its agreement with Virgin Mobile for its deployment and increased page views and increased revenues and its proposed sale of its mobile business. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect InfoSpace's actual results include the performance under the agreement with Virgin Mobile, the progress and costs of deployment of products and services, the scope and timing of user adoption and implementation and market acceptance of the application and features of InfoSpace's mobile search technology, including its mCore(TM) Mobile Services Platform, and the successful execution of the Company's strategic initiatives and restructuring plans, including the sale of its mobile business. A more detailed description of certain factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, those discussed in InfoSpace's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as filed from time to time, in the section entitled "Risk Factors." Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. InfoSpace undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)