Press Releases
Free Directory Assistance Provider Jingle Networks Adds Thomas Caldwell to Executive Team CFO Veteran Joins Creator of 1-800-FREE411
October 09, 2006 – Menlo Park, Calif. Jingle Networks, Inc., operator of the 1-800-FREE411 directory assistance service, today announced the appointment of Thomas P. Caldwell as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Caldwell’s addition to the company’s executive team rounds out the management team, and strengthens Jingle Networks’ position as the leader in the fast-growing advertiser-supported directory assistance (DA) industry.
In the year following its market introduction, Jingle Networks’ 1-800-FREE411 service has altered the $7.4 billion directory assistance market and become the nation’s leading advertiser-supported 411 offering. Jingle Networks provides consumers a free alternative to traditional directory assistance calls, which have risen from an average cost of 38 cents in 1995 to $1.10 in 2005, according to industry research firm The Pierz Group. For marketers, 1-800-FREE411 offers an interactive, one-to-one communication with targeted prospects at crucial moments in the sales cycle, delivering lower-cost, no-risk customer acquisition compared to traditional media.
Before joining Jingle Networks, Caldwell was a principal with Financial Leadership Group, LLC, where he provided CFO consulting services to a number of public and private companies. Previously Caldwell served as senior vice president and CFO at MyPoints.com, an Internet direct marketing and advertising company, where he led the company’s initial public offering, which ranked among the top 20 IPOs in 1999.
Caldwell served as senior vice president, CFO and secretary of Dynamic Circuits Inc., where he led the company’s acquisition by DDI Corporation (Nasdaq: DDIC). His background also includes significant Fortune 500 Treasury and Controller experience, as well as providing mergers and acquisitions and other financial advisory services for both PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the national investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin.
“1-800-FREE411 has created an entirely new channel for marketers seeking to reach an engaged and targeted audience in a clutter-free environment, while catering to consumers who are frustrated with the rising price of directory assistance calls,” said Caldwell. “As Jingle enters its next phase of growth, I am excited to bring to Jingle my experience in guiding fast track companies through key milestones, and look forward to working with a talented and accomplished team to make the company Silicon Valley’s next great success story.”
Jingle now processes almost three percent of DA calls in the U.S., accounting for more than 13 million inquiries from more than four million consumers each month. Instead of paying between $1 and $2 for each call, consumers may hear short marketing offers and are then given the opportunity to either respond or to continue with their lookup request. The service otherwise offers the same lookup services as paid directory assistance services.
“In our first year, we’ve experienced exponential growth and have been readily accepted by both advertisers and consumers who have saved more than $120 million using our service nationwide,” said George Garrick, president and CEO of Jingle Networks. “Tom’s addition is an important next step in accelerating our momentum and capitalizing on our position as the leading free DA company.”
About Jingle Networks & 1-800-FREE411Jingle Networks, operator of the nation’s leading ad-supported directory assistance service 1-800-FREE411, has significantly changed the directory assistance market by giving consumers an anytime, anywhere source of free information on the phone. 1-800-FREE411 is for anyone who owns a phone and needs information but is dissatisfied with the high cost of directory assistance. Jingle Networks has changed the industry by creating an exciting new media channel through 1-800-FREE411. With nearly 130 million annual calls, 1-800-FREE411 offers advertisers highly targeted and timely promotional opportunities to reach a large but targeted customer base who are ready-to-buy, garnering a response rate twice that of other direct response media. For more information, visit: www.free411.com.
For Media Inquiries
Deann Mayeda
415-591-8404
dmayeda@shiftcomm.com
