14 DAY TRIAL // AT&T announced that its subsidiary YELLOWPAGES.COM has launched a new service that helps users find local businesses more easily from their cell phone. To use the service, consumers simply send a text message to YP411 (97411) with a business name or business category, along with a city and state or ZIP code. YELLOWPAGES.COM then returns text message results with up to three listings. Consumers can simply click the phone number included in the results to initiate a call to a business. Additionally, for phones and PDAs that support the capability, consumers can click the WAP link to see more details of the business such as a map or directions.
"As a part of our multimodal strategy, the YP411 text message service adds to the terrific value we are bringing to consumers and local businesses," said Matt Crowley, chief marketing officer of YELLOWPAGES.COM, AT&T. "With YP411, businesses found on YELLOWPAGES.COM have another way to reach consumers. This added distribution is free to all advertisers and businesses found on YELLOWPAGES.COM."
The launch of YP411 bolsters the menu of mobile search services that YELLOWPAGES.COM has rolled out over the past few months, including a Send-to-Mobile feature that allows Internet users to send search results from YELLOWPAGES.COM to their wireless phones in the form of a text message. The company also recently launched an optimized mobile browser interface as well as enhanced MEdia Net capabilities, including a single search box, available to subscribers of AT&T wireless service.
"YP411 adds to the growing suite of mobile search services YELLOWPAGES.COM is offering. Giving consumers the ability to text message search requests to five easy-to-remember characters is another way YELLOWPAGES.COM is extending its brand to help local consumers and businesses connect via the digital method of their choice," said Crowley.
There is no cost for consumers to use YELLOWPAGES.COM's YP411 service other than regular text messaging fees charged by service providers.