Airbiquity and InfoSpace to Jointly Offer Location-Based Audio Wireless Services - Brief Article

Wireless Internet, Feb, 2001

Airbiquity and InfoSpace announced an agreement in which the two companies will jointly market location-based audio wireless services.

Under the agreement, the companies can offer targeted audio content for wireless devices linked to a caller's place of origin. This will allow wireless users to easily access audio location-based information, such as restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, and more. Coupled with InfoSpace's commerce offerings, the solution provides end-users with complete access to targeted information and commerce capability over mobile devices relevant to their location at a specific time. Audio-delivered content, such as automated speech technology, which requires limited viewing of the wireless device's display, can decrease the distraction of the driver when the device is operated in a motor vehicle.

The alliance will take full advantage of a variety of Airbiquity-enabled devices under development, including wireless handsets, wireless accessories, and PDAs, as well as wireless devices available in automobiles. The joint offerings may be distributed through a variety of existing and new sales channels, including wireless carriers, voice portals, and telematics service providers.

Airbiquity recently launched its GPS Accessory, a first-to-market retrofittable wireless phone accessory featuring the latest GPS location technology. The GPS Accessory provides the means to send and receive location-sensitive information simply by pressing a button on the back of the unit. This patent-pending Push-to-Pinpoint technology is user-activated, ensuring wireless phone subscriber privacy.

The GPS Accessory, which consists of GPS, battery, and Airbiquity's aqLink technology, quickly and easily attaches to millions of Nokia wireless phones, the most widely used wireless phones on the market, in place of a standard Nokia battery. Airbiquity's GPS Accessory can be used with most other wireless phone accessories, including chargers, car kits, cradles, and cases.