Press Releases
1-800-FREE411 Captures Six Percent Share of Mobile Directory Assistance Market Jingle Networks Continues to Emerge As Disruptive Force in Directory Assistance Industry
March 15, 2007 – Menlo Park, Calif.Jingle Networks, Inc., operator of the 1-800-FREE411 directory assistance service, today announced that the company has captured a six percent market share of all 411 calls from mobile phones. Reaching nearly 17 million calls in February 2007, 1-800-FREE411 has processed approximately 170 million calls to date, saving Americans $340 million in phone company 411 fees since launching in September 2005.
The Pierz Group projects that approximately 2.6 billion calls will be placed to directory assistance through a mobile phone in the U.S. during 2007. Currently 1-800-FREE411 processes nearly three million wireless calls per week, accounting for a six percent share of the directory assistance market. The majority of 1-800-FREE411’s calls originate from a mobile phone, underscoring consumers’ growing need for a way to obtain information while away from the home.
“The U.S. directory assistance market has reached $7 billion and is only continuing to grow due to major shifts toward mobile and advertiser-sponsored 411 services,” said Kathleen Pierz, managing partner of The Pierz Group. “It’s exciting to see how free alternatives to wireless carriers’ paid 411 services are fueling market growth by making 411 available to a new group of mobile users that previously avoided paid directory assistance. With 1-800-FREE411, Jingle Networks has driven enough change in the market to force carriers like AT&T to begin testing free 411 business themselves.”
1-800-FREE411 was created for anyone who owns a phone and needs a resource for phone numbers and addresses but is dissatisfied with the high cost of directory assistance. Providing the same quality of service as paid DA, 1-800-FREE411 is free and engages callers with brief, targeted marketing offers while their requested listing is retrieved.
“Since we’ve launched 1-800-FREE411, we’ve grown virally to 17 million calls a month, which shows how passionate people are about saving money on directory assistance. Over the next year we’ll save Americans almost a half-billion dollars, with the majority of those consumers calling from a mobile phone,” said George Garrick, president and CEO of Jingle Networks. “As wireless phones continue to grow in market share as many peoples' primary communications device, this also creates a powerful new media environment for consumer marketers.”
Advertisers have rapidly adopted and recognized the value 1-800-FREE411 presents in reaching millions of consumers on their mobile phone with highly targeted and timely promotions. To date, more than 500 companies have utilized the 1-800-FREE411 network as a unique and powerful advertising medium for reaching consumers when they are in a ready-to-buy mode. Companies who have advertised on the service include McDonalds, Absolut, Academy Awards, Aegon Insurance, American Express, Autonation, 1-800-Mattress, 1-800 CONTACTS, CBS, Comcast, Discount Tire, ID Media, Ingenio, Intercontinental Hotels, OMD, Orbitz, Roto Rooter, GE, Paramount Pictures and Vermont Teddy Bear.
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
