m-spatial Launches 'Converged Local Search'

location based services

3GSM Barcelona, 12-15 February 2007: m-spatial, the market leader in mobile local search, today announces the launch of its solution for Converged Local Search- a major new initiative designed to stimulate mass market consumer adoption of local search on mobile devices. Converged Local Search enables Mobile Network Operators, Directory Providers and Personal Navigation Providers to realise the huge potential of local search by seamlessly linking access to local information across web-sites, 118/411 directory services, mobile data services and personal navigation devices.Converged Local Search benefits Personal Navigation Providers and 118/411 Providers by providing their 'on the move' consumer customers with access to the additional rich and dynamic local information delivered by m-spatial's market leading mobile local search capabilities as an extension to existing services. For example, users of a personal navigation system integrated with Converged Local Search can not only find their way to a nearby cinema, but can also find out what's on and book a ticket. This provides competitive advantage in an increasingly commoditised market, in addition to offering access to a new revenue stream.Mobile Network Operators and Directory Providers benefit from significantly increased usage of their existing mobile local search services through the integration of high volume web-site interactions with local information via a 'send to mobile' mechanism. This allows users to investigate and identify businesses and amenities that may meet their needs on web-sites and then 'download' the identity of the business/amenity to their mobile phone for later access whilst 'on the move'."All major mobile studies highlight consumer interest in access to locally relevant content and services, but the industry has historically been poor at translating this demand into real usage and revenues," said Andy Walker, CEO of m-spatial. "We believe that by seamlessly linking access to local information via web-sites and 118/411 services with 'on the move' access via mobile phones and personal navigation devices, we can begin to make Converged Local Search part of consumers' everyday lives, a significant step in achieving mass market adoption. Couple this with the major attraction to local advertisers of reaching 'on the move' consumers who are close to their businesses and have an imminent intention to purchase, and Converged Local Search is set to provide a major new revenue stream"Converged Local Search will be delivered to Mobile Network Operators, Directory Providers and Personal Navigation Providers via m-spatial's market leading Local Search and Discovery Engine (LSDE) product. m-spatial will be demonstrating this new capability during 3GSM Congress in Barcelona at stand 1E57.About m-spatialBased in Cambridge, UK, m-spatial is the market leader in converged local search - connecting consumers to 'local' businesses and information via mobile phones and personal navigation devices. m-spatial provides its products via a white label ASP delivery model to mobile network operators, directory providers and personal navigation providers. Its international customers include Orange, Vodafone, O2 and Seat PagineGialle, Italy's leading directory provider. m-spatial's innovative and unique approach to mobile local search delivers a 'made for mobile' user experience which offers consumers quick and simple access to both a breadth and depth of 'local' information including businesses, amenities, events and traffic conditions and is compatible with the majority of mobile devices. Converged local search also offers 'on the move' access to the same information for businesses and amenities identified via local information channels such as third party web-sites and 118/411 directory services.www.m-spatial.com