1-800-FREE411 Captures Six Percent Share of Mobile Directory Assistance Market

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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

Jingle Networks is creating an exciting new media network through 1-800-FREE411, the nation’s leading advertiser-supported directory assistance service, which is revolutionizing the directory assistance industry by offering consumers a free alternative to the high cost 411 services provided by landline carriers and mobile phone companies. 1-800-FREE411 is supported by national and local advertisers who use 1-800-FREE411 as both a branding and direct-response media channel to target messages to callers within the context of a normal-length 411 call. In addition, FREE411.com on the Internet provides consumers with an easy to use Web-based resource for telephone number lookups. For more information, visit: www.free411.com.