Mobile users now have free, instant voice-enabled access to local traffic
KIRKLAND, Wash., Apr. 27 -- INRIX(R), the leading provider of traffic information, today announced it has been selected by Microsoft Corp. for the voice activated local search service, Live Search 411. The free mobile service now provides real-time traffic information including travel times, accidents and congestion information in addition to local business search, directions, weather and other services. Mobile phone users can immediately access the service at 1-800-CALL-411 (1-800-225-5411).
"Our consumer research shows that traffic information is one of the most popular requests for mobile phone users," said Neil Bernstein, senior director, Microsoft. "We chose INRIX Traffic for Live Search 411 to provide high-quality traffic information to consumers across all major metropolitan areas."
INRIX and Tellme Networks Inc., a Microsoft subsidiary, are also collaborating extensively on the interactive voice-powered service Ford SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information. Ford Motor Company announced the new service at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, 2009 and expects availability on most 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles starting in Spring, 2009.
"Live Search 411 is a robust and easy-to-use local search service," said Bryan Mistele, president and CEO, INRIX. "Given our Microsoft Research origins and our collaboration with Tellme, it was a natural extension to work together to provide personalized traffic for Microsoft's popular Live Search 411 service."
INRIX(R) is the leading provider of accurate traffic information and in-car connected services in North America and Europe, with over 70 customers and industry partners including the Ford Motor Company, TomTom, MapQuest, Microsoft, TeleNav, I-95 Corridor Coalition, Tele Atlas, deCarta, ITIS Holdings, TCS, Telmap, ANWB, ARC Europe, and TNO. INRIX's strategic partnership with Clear Channel Radio and Total Traffic Network extends the delivery of the highest quality data and broadest coverage available for personal navigation, mapping, telematics and other location-based service applications in the car, online and on mobile devices.
INRIX Traffic Services leverage sophisticated statistical analysis techniques, originally developed by Microsoft Research, to aggregate and enhance traffic-related information from hundreds of public and private sources, including traditional road sensors and the company's unique network of nearly a million GPS-enabled vehicles and cellular probes. INRIX delivers traffic information today for over 120 markets in North America and via ARC Europe for 16 European countries. To experience the traffic technology revolution behind the next generation of navigation and location-based service applications, visit www.INRIX.com.
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