Verizon Launches Wireless Internet Powered by Infospace's Platform and Suite of Services
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Verizon Launches Wireless Internet Powered by InfoSpace's Platform and Suite of Services InfoSpace Provides the Wireless Default Platform of Information, Community, Communications, and Shopping Services To Verizon Wireless Customers Coast-to-Coast BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2000--InfoSpace (Nasdaq: INSP), a leading global provider of information and commerce infrastructure services for wireless devices, merchants and Web sites, and Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S., today announced that Verizon Wireless has launched its Mobile Web service using InfoSpace's wireless platform and integrated suite of services. InfoSpace's wireless infrastructure services enable Verizon Wireless to offer its customers the ability to conduct commerce, access information and manage their lives all from their Verizon Wireless-powered phone. "InfoSpace's wide range of wireless services and the flexibility of our platform make our infrastructure the first choice for carriers," said Naveen Jain, founder and chairman, InfoSpace. "This partnership will empower Verizon Wireless to provide its users with next-generation services that will help it create a long term relationship with its mobile customers." "We are using InfoSpace's platform and integrated suite of services because they allow us to provide our customers with localized mobile services tailored to each specific customer's needs. There is a strong and growing consumer demand for these services," said Marc Lefar, Verizon Wireless' staff vice president, e-Business, Wireless Internet and Data Services. "The flexibility and scalability of InfoSpace's services adds real value to our service, driving our users to rely on their wireless phone as the ultimate source of information -- anytime, any place and on any device." Launched yesterday, Mobile Web is a nationwide service providing users access to the Web-based information they want via their wireless handsets. Mobile Web is designed to meet each user's specific personal and business needs and allows for the user to customize either directly on his/her handset or through Verizon Wireless' new customer portal, MyVZW.com. Mobile Web runs on Verizon Wireless' coast-to-coast, CDMA network. About InfoSpace's Wireless Services InfoSpace's Wireless Internet Services are the first end-to-end private-label solution that enable wireless carriers, device manufacturers and software application providers to develop a comprehensive wireless portal optimized for their customers. The integrated platform of services provide mobile users with one place to get relevant content including real-time stock quotes and directions; commerce capabilities, including price comparison shopping; communication features, including person-to person, device-independent instant messaging; personalization and localization. InfoSpace's Wireless Internet Services are device-independent and provide a platform which enables carriers to support a variety of emerging protocols such as WAP, PQA's for Palm VII and VXML, in addition to HDML and SMTP. InfoSpace's services are compatible with a variety of gateway technologies including WAP gateways from Nokia, Phone.com and Ericsson. About InfoSpace, Inc. InfoSpace is a worldwide leader in providing infrastructure services for commerce, communication and information to wireless carriers, merchants and Web sites. The Company's affiliates include a network of wireless and other Internet-enabled devices including PCs, cellular phones, pagers, screen telephones, television set-top boxes, online kiosks, and personal digital assistants. These include relationships with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Vodafone, ALLTELL, VoiceStream, U S WEST, Intel, Ericsson, Nokia, Mitsui and Acer America. InfoSpace's affiliate network also consists of more than 3,000 Web sites that include AOL, Microsoft, Disney's GO Network, NBC's Snap, Lycos, go2net Inc., DoubleClick, Dow Jones (The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition) and ABC LocalNet, among others. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 25 million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) -- and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (NYSE: VOD; London). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The new company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, NJ, is 30,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter . This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the development of the Company's products and services and future operating results, including statements regarding the Company's agreement with Verizon Wireless, that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect the Company's actual results include the progress and costs of the development of our products and services and the timing of market acceptance of those products and services. A more detailed description of certain factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, those discussed in InfoSpace's Annual Report on Form 10-K, in the section entitled "Factors Affecting InfoSpace's Operating Results, Business Prospects and Market Price of Stock." Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. InfoSpace undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contacts InfoSpace, Inc. Adam Whinston, 425/201-8946 [email protected].