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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Dial Directions Powers Virgin Mobile USA’s Voice-Activated Directions Service
San Francisco, CA — Dial Directions, the leading provider of voice-activated location-based services, today announced that Virgin Mobile™ USA (NYSE: VM) is leveraging its voice-activated “Directions Assistance” service to let customers request driving directions by phone, then receive them by text message. As the first voice-activated and text messaging based service, Dial Directions lets Virgin Mobile USA customers simply speak their location and destination into the phone and receive directions instantly by text message.
The initial trial will include a new “Directions” link on the deck of select Virgin Mobile USA phones. After clicking the link, callers are then prompted to speak any address or intersection for both their start and destination. Callers will receive the driving directions by text message.
"We continuously look to deliver services that enhance the overall mobile experience," said Rich Alexander, head of Messaging Services for Virgin Mobile USA. "This Dial Directions feature enables our customers to use their phones in an innovative manner for mobile voice search. Our customers will appreciate how easy it is to call ahead of departure to receive instant access to turn-by-turn driving directions simply by saying the start and end point."
"Dial Directions and its underlying 'spoken location interface' technology represent a major leap forward in mobile consumer services," said Amit Desai, co-founder and chief product officer for Dial Directions. “We’re thrilled to work with Virgin Mobile USA as they look for new ways to enhance their customers’ experience through mobile directions and other location-based services.”
What makes Dial Directions so effective is its superior voice user interface, breakthrough speech recognition and navigation technology. Leading mobile and web companies like Jingle Network's 1-800-Free411 and Ask.com are also using Dial Direction's spoken-location platform interface to power their consumer mobile services.
About Dial Directions
Dial Directions is the leading provider of ‘spoken-location’ platform interface for voice search and mobile services, powered by new voice-activated technology for location-based services with unprecedented accuracy and ease of use. Dial Directions partners include leaders in innovation such as Jingle Network’s 1-800-Free411 and Ask.com. Dial Directions provides the first free nationwide phone service for driving directions: cell phone users in any U.S. city can call "DIR-ECT-IONS" (or 347-328-4667); speak their starting location and destination address or business; and receive directions instantly by text message. For more information, visit: www.dialdirections.com.
About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA [NYSE: VM] offers more than five million customers control, flexibility and choice through monthly plans without annual contracts, with national coverage powered by the nationwide Sprint PCS network. Virgin Mobile USA’s full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets, including the Wild Card, Super Slice and Flare, are available at top retailers in approximately 40,000 locations nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at more than 140,000 locations. J.D. Power and Associates ranked Virgin Mobile USA highest in customer satisfaction among wireless prepaid services in both 2006 and 2007, and its customers report a 90% satisfaction rate.
Virgin Mobile USA contributes a portion of profits from downloadable content to The RE*Generation, its pro-social initiative to help homeless youth, and provides postage-paid return envelopes in every new package for customers to recycle old phones.
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