To include content discovery and recommendation, off-deck access and mobile advertising solutions

Feb 16, 2007 11:24 GMT  ·  By

Fast Search & Transfer (FAST), a developer of search technologies, and InfoSpace announced a partnership to deliver a next-generation white label ASP mobile search service that will enable carriers to take more control over their content business models, and provide a richer mobile search experience to customers.

The strategic partnership for mobile search will offer carriers an enhanced mobile search solution, combining FAST's search software, relevancy algorithms, crawling and indexing technologies with InfoSpace's expertise in mobile infrastructure, metasearch, carrier integration and ASP solutions. The joint solution from FAST and InfoSpace will give mobile carriers greater versatility in controlling the user experience across multiple platforms, and deploying business models that better promote their own brands and services.

"Our ongoing partnerships on mobile search with leading carriers in North America and Europe highlight our expertise in meeting the needs of their customers," said Steve Elfman, executive vice president of InfoSpace's mobile business unit. "We're joining forces with FAST to further our integrated approach that will unlock the full potential of mobile search, including enhanced user discoverability and increased carrier revenue."

InfoSpace and FAST will help carriers implement mobile search with improvements in the discovery and recommendation of downloadable content, access to the off-deck mobile web index and alternatives for mobile advertising. Moreover, the companies will collaborate to develop superior storefront and WAP index functionality.

"Search is the most used and most profitable tool on the Internet. The FAST and InfoSpace partnership takes the search paradigm to mobile users to allow for controlling and monetizing each user interaction with a robust set of features, built on top of superior portal search and mobile web search," said John Markus Lervik, CEO of FAST. "Personalized results enhance user satisfaction, increase purchases, increase traffic, and drive advertising revenue or any other business model deemed important by the mobile carrier."