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VERIZON WIRELESS
SELECTS VINDIGO TO DELIVER DOWNLOADABLE LOCATION-BASED APPLICATION
Find the Best Places to Eat, Shop,
and Play in Major Cities; Provides Consumers with Phone-Based Maps
and Walking/Driving Directions
BEDMINSTER, NJ, Jul. 10, 2002 - Verizon Wireless,
the nation's largest wireless service provider, today announced
the availability of Vindigo, a personal navigation application for
wireless phones that can be downloaded over the air onto select
phones. Verizon Wireless, the first carrier in North America to
offer downloadable application to consumers nationwide, chose Vindigo
because it offers its customers the ease of one-stop shopping. In
more than 25 major metropolitan areas, Vindigo has comprehensive
local information on where to eat, shop, and play.
The service is complete with full-color maps, ratings and reviews
from brand-name content providers, and includes driving directions
to any Vindigo listing. The service is available to Verizon Wireless
customers for $3.75 per month and will appear on their monthly phone
bill.
"Applications consumers can download over the air on their phone
are available nationally and we believe these services will help
us reach our goal to morph the wireless phone into a valuable resource
for consumers who want up-to-the minute information to help them
manage their life," said Jim Straight, vice president of wireless
data and Internet services for Verizon Wireless. "It is important
that we join with content providers and developers that can give
our customers the same superior service we provide and that are
experts in their field. Vindigo provides a compelling consumer application
with brand-name content and integrated mapping and directions, complete
with hosting and maintenance."
Each productivity application published by Vindigo for Verizon Wireless
runs on QUALCOMM's Binary Runtime Environment for WirelessTM (BREWTM),
an advanced platform that allows users to download the applications
over the air. Verizon Wireless subscribers using a BREW-enabled
wireless phone that is compatible with the application will be able
to select, purchase and download productivity applications published
by Vindigo.
"We founded Vindigo in anticipation of wireless phones as powerful
and compelling as the new handsets from Verizon Wireless," said
Jason Devitt, chief executive officer of Vindigo. "Today, hundreds
of thousands of consumers rely on Vindigo to find what they need,
wherever they are, and our relationship with Verizon Wireless allows
us to deliver a similar user experience to the largest audience
of wireless phone users in the country."
Vindigo is initially available on the Verizon Wireless Z-800 with
full color display ($399.99 with a two-year service agreement).
Availability on other handsets will follow shortly. Customers can
purchase the BREW-capable Z800 at Verizon Wireless Communications
Stores throughout the country and participating RadioShack locations,
or online at www.VerizonWireless.com. Additional BREW-enabled phones
will be available soon.
Vindigo is currently available in the following U.S. cities:
Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore
Boston
Brooklyn
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Fort Worth
Houston
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Greater LA (Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena)
Miami
New York
New Orleans
Orlando
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland, OR
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Seattle
Twin Cities
Washington, DC
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About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications.
The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network
and 30 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon
Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ)
and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web
at http://www.verizonwireless.com.
About Vindigo
Vindigo is the leading service provider for delivering location-based
content and services to wireless and mobile devices. Vindigo's proprietary
technology and network of content partners enables it to offer compelling
and comprehensive location-based applications to carriers and consumers,
via Palm Powered™ handheld computers, Pocket PC computers, and Internet-enabled
mobile phones including BREW handsets. Vindigo allows people to
explore, enjoy, and connect to the world around them.
All names
may be the trademarks of their respective companies.
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