- First and Only Internet Yellow Pages to Offer Consumers Road, Aerial and
Birdseye Photo Images
- Establishes Platform for Future Mapping and Local Search Applications
Leveraging Microsoft's Virtual Earth Platform
PASADENA, Calif., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- YELLOWPAGES.COM today
announced the launch of its next generation mapping that gives consumers
more options for mapping, viewing and connecting with local businesses. In
March 2006, the YELLOWPAGES.COM Network reached 27.3 million monthly unique
users.*
After an evaluation process, YELLOWPAGES.COM selected Microsoft's
Virtual Earth platform to power the mapping and location imagery offerings
provided through the YELLOWPAGES.COM website. YELLOWPAGES.COM is the online
source for consumers who are searching for local businesses - and Maps and
Driving Directions are key features for these YELLOWPAGES.COM users. In
addition to driving directions and standard online map views,
YELLOWPAGES.COM becomes the first and only Internet Yellow Pages to offer
consumers Aerial and Bird's Eye photo map views. Through YELLOWPAGES.COM's
application, users can take advantage of the following mapping options:
- Road: This is a typical street map illustrating roads, highways,
landmarks, etc. This is the default map style on YELLOWPAGES.COM. Road
maps are available for 100 percent of geographies in the U.S.
- Aerial: This is a combination of satellite photographs plus photographs
taken from airplanes. Aerial maps are also available for 100 percent of
geographies in the U.S.
- Bird's Eye: This is a bonus map view available in more than 30 U.S.
metro areas, with additional metros to be added in the near future.
The feature offers high-resolution, low-angle photographs taken from
small aircraft. The "Bird's Eye" button appears in the map selector
tool when the option is available.
Through YELLOWPAGES.COM's mapping application, consumers now have the
ability for smooth navigation of the new maps to zoom and pan in different
directions - including click and drag capabilities.
Matt Crowley, Vice President of marketing for YELLOWPAGES.COM, said the
new mapping feature is a key piece of innovation that will enhance
YELLOWPAGES.COM users' experience when looking for products and services in
their local market.
"For users, the new mapping offers an advanced feature when searching
online to find a local business - or mapping any location and getting
directions. For advertisers, this next-generation mapping gives local
consumers another way to connect with prospective businesses, and adds even
greater value to their investment on YELLOWPAGES.COM," said Crowley.
YELLOWPAGES.COM's offering of vivid and unique imagery allows users to
become more immersed in mapping searches. Full screen maps and easy-to-use
controls will allow users to see larger maps and get a greater sense for
the location and areas they are searching. This initial launch also
establishes the platform for future mapping and local search enhancements
for YELLOWPAGES.COM users and advertisers.
"YELLOWPAGES.COM's new mapping is a key piece of our strategy to
provide the best possible online local experiences for consumers, and by
doing so, continue to drive even more value to our loyal advertisers. This
initial mapping rollout is doing just that, and we are proud to have
launched this new application that leverages the leading mapping
technologies that the Virtual Earth team has developed," Crowley added.
"Location is an incredibly important way for consumers to find
information and it's vitally important for providers of local information
to offer an immersive local search experience. We are very excited to see
what YELLOWPAGES.COM has done with maps, directions and immersive imagery
to fully embrace the Virtual Earth platform to provide a great experience
for their user," said Stephen Lawler, General Manager of the Virtual Earth
business unit at Microsoft.
To view YELLOWPAGES.COM's mapping functionality, go to
http://www.yellowpages.com and select "maps and directions", or simply search
YELLOWPAGES.COM for a local business and click on the "map" link.
About YELLOWPAGES.COM
YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC is a joint venture operation of AT&T and BellSouth
Advertising and Publishing Corporation formed in late 2004. The
YELLOWPAGES.COM Network provided exposure to approximately 27.3 million
monthly unique visitors in March 2006.*
*YELLOWPAGES.COM Network custom entity, comScore Media Metrix, March
2006
SOURCE BellSouth Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.yellowpages.com/
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html /
CONTACT:
Ed Patterson of YELLOWPAGES.COM,
+1-678-406-2457, or mobile, +1-404-213-3106, or
epatterson@imcingular.com
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