First Mobile Application to Combine Local Content, Social Networking & GPS
Navigation
NEW YORK, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IAC (Nasdaq: IACI) today
announced the availability of Ask(R) Mobile GPS(TM), a GPS-enabled
lifestyle application featuring the best of Ask.com, Citysearch, and
Evite.com, along with instant location finder and turn-by-turn navigation
powered by the Global Positioning System. The service -- the first ever to
combine local content, social networking and GPS navigation -- is now
available for download at gps.ask.com.
"Ask Mobile GPS is just the start of our commitment to creating
outstanding mobile offerings. IAC has the brands consumers love and use for
life's every day activities, and our resources and scale give us the
ability to integrate the best of our products and services into a holistic
mobile offering for consumers," said Doug Lebda, President and Chief
Operating Officer of IAC. "This year we'll add more IAC brands to the
application, such as Match.com, Ticketmaster and RealEstate.com, and we
plan to expand to a broad array of mobile phones and services to support as
many of our 275 million worldwide users as possible."
Ask Mobile GPS is the latest offering from the award-winning Ask Mobile
family. The program uses an iconic widget interface that makes navigation
fast and fun. Unique features include:
-- Browse Citysearch's millions of listings to find restaurants, bars,
ATMs, spas, boutiques -- just about anything you want. Search by
specific business name (i.e. Starbucks) or by key word (i.e. coffee).
Easily view businesses on a pan-able and zoom-able map. GPS technology
automatically finds matches nearby. Citysearch instantly serves up
address, phone number, business hours, parking information, editorial
reviews and ratings, and user reviews. Once you have what you want,
click to call or navigate to the location with a single click.
-- View your Evite invitations, including guest lists and locations. Keep
up to date with any changes in location and time, view the latest
guest list, and automatically navigate to your events.
-- Navigate around town with turn-by-turn driving directions and even
walking directions powered by GPS navigation. With voice prompts
leading the way, you can keep your eyes on the road. There are no
wrong turns -- Ask Mobile GPS will re-calculate new routes for you on
the fly. Choose the fastest route or the shortest; even avoid
highways.
-- Stay connected with friends. Turn your address book into a social
network. Let the GPS technology pinpoint your location so you can
broadcast it (with a note, if you want) to anyone in your contact
list. Friends receive a text message with a link to a map showing your
location. Use one of the auto-suggested businesses nearby to pick the
perfect meet-up spot.
-- Save time by typing less. Ask Mobile GPS was built with the philosophy
of minimizing key strokes in every way possible.
-- GPS technology automatically finds nearby locations and businesses
without having to enter in your location
-- Categories and specific businesses are automatically suggested
when searching for local business listings
-- Nearby cities are suggested when entering your location
-- Nearby airports are suggested when searching airports
-- Save Addresses and Directions so they're right there when you need
them again. No need to type them again.
"With Ask Mobile GPS, your cell phone is like the remote control for
your life. With the bundling of GPS with our lifestyle brands, your phone
knows exactly where you are, so there's far less hunt-and-peck entering of
information on the keypad when you're out and about," said Jim Lanzone, CEO
of Ask.com. "We've adapted our brands specifically for mobile phones --
we're not force-fitting content that should be read on a computer screen
onto a cell phone."
Ask Mobile GPS was built in partnership with WaveMarket, Inc., a global
leader in mobile applications and GPS technology. WaveMarket's advanced
GPS- based technologies provide the backbone to the application.
"WaveMarket has been IAC's key partner in executing our mobile
strategy. Their unique combination of advanced technology, including GPS
location and navigation, along with a user-focused design philosophy, go
hand-in-hand with the quality we expect of all our products and services,"
said Andy Yang, Senior Director of Strategic Planning for IAC.
About Ask.com
A leading search engine on the Web, Ask.com combines world-class search
technology with one-of-a-kind search tools to help people get what they are
looking for faster. Ask.com sites include Ask.com US (http://www.Ask.com ),
Ask.com Deutschland, Ask.com Espana, Ask.com France, Ask.com Italia,
Ask.com Japan, Ask.com Nederlands and Ask.com UK. Additionally, Ask.com
syndicates its search technology and advertising units to a network of
affiliate partners. Ask.com is a division of IAC Search & Media, a
wholly-owned business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI). Ask.com b-roll footage is
available at http://www.thenewsmarket.com/ask.
About IAC
IAC is an interactive conglomerate operating more than 60 diversified
brands in sectors being transformed by the internet, online and offline...
our mission is to harness the power of interactivity to make daily life
easier and more productive for people all over the world. To learn more
about IAC please visit http://www.iac.com
About Wave Market
WaveMarket Inc. is a world leader in location-based services and has
pioneered the first carrier-grade location trigger solution. The company's
software product suite includes solutions that range from family finder
services to mobile social networking. Marketing to mobile carriers in the
United States, Europe and Asia, WaveMarket's customers include top tier
North American carriers Sprint Nextel, Cingular, Bell Mobility of Canada,
and SK Telecom, Korea's leading wireless carrier. Headquartered in
Emeryville, CA, WaveMarket also has international offices in Brazil and
Canada. Founded in 2000, the company is financed by a group that includes
Draper Fisher Jurvetson, QUALCOMM Ventures, BlueRun Ventures (formerly
Nokia Venture Partners), Intel Capital, and Mitsui Ventures.
http://www.wavemarket.com
Contacts
Ask.com Public Relations:
Patrick Crisp
510-985-7696
patrick@ask.com
IAC Corporate Communications:
Andrea Riggs / Stacy Simpson
(212) 314-7280 / 7470
IAC Investor Relations:
Eoin Ryan
(212) 314-7400
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