Air2Web Platform Extends Reach of BarPoint's Shopping Service, Giving Customer Wireless Access Via SMS and Audio Streaming for All Digital Phones - Brief Article

Wireless Internet, March, 2001

Air2Web announced it has extended the reach of BarPoint.com, a product information service and applications developer.

Through the use of the Air2Web Mobile Internet Platform solution, the BarPoint Shopper service was enabled for use on any Short Message Service (SMS) digital phone. Businesses and consumers can now access BarPoint's wealth of product-specific information with any SMS digital phone, as well as listen to streaming audio on both WAP and SMS phones.

There are currently 47 million SMS phones in the United States alone, making them the most widely distributed digital phone in the country.

The BarPoint Shopper service uses "reverse search" technology to quickly provide product specific information on everything from books, movies and music to computers and office supplies.

Using a unique product identifier, such as a UPC code, the BarPoint Shopper easily retrieves detailed information such as product reviews, manufacturer information and comparative pricing. Shoppers browsing BarPoint' s music category can also listen to audio clips of select songs on their digital phone. The audio clip capability has also been enabled for Internet capable (WAP) phones.

"Because of the popularity of SMS phones in the US, it was vital for us to make our information available to these users," said John Macatee, president and chief executive officer of BarPoint.com.

To set up wireless access to the BarPoint Shopper service, consumers only need to go through a one-time registration process at the BarPoint web site. From that point forward, they simply visit the BarPoint Shopper service via their digital phone, enter a product's UPC code, hear the options, choose the information they want, and receive the specific information requested right on their SMS phone.