NYToday.com, a part of Times Company Digital, the Internet division of the New York Times Company, and Vindigo, the leading developer of personal navigation applications for handheld devices, today formally unveiled their jointly-branded mobile service that arms users with the timely local content they need to make fast, informed decisions about where to Eat, Shop and Play - whenever and wherever they are.
The product, called Vindigo, is the latest addition to Times Company Digital's distribution initiatives. Now, anyone can immediately access NYToday.com, via Vindigo, on a Palm(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) or Palm-compatible device. The application is available, free-of-charge, by downloading the application from the Vindigo web site, www.vindigo.com or from the NYToday.com web site, www.nytoday.com .
Of the millions of handheld devices being used today, the majority are being used by people on the go to simplify their lives. The collaboration between NYToday.com and Vindigo addresses the need for spur of the moment access to timely, local information. NYToday.com brings the award-winning reviews of The New York Times and its descriptions of restaurants, nightclubs and bars to the Vindigo application, which is specifically designed to categorize, display and quickly update this location-specific information with the tap of a screen. The resulting service is a personal navigator that ensures users will never be stranded wondering what to do, where to go, and how to get there.
The New York version of Vindigo offers listings, reviews and directions for over 5000 restaurants, bars, stores and movies. And, if users aren't sure what they are looking for, Vindigo can make suggestions based on the parameters specified, from the nearest bowling alley and movie playing to the closest Japanese restaurant.
"We are pleased to be working with Vindigo to distribute content from NYToday.com to users through handheld devices," said Jason Krebs, vice president and general manager of NYToday.com. "With Vindigo, we are now able to extend the value of our information into the pockets and purses of our readers to help them make their day more fulfilling."
Vindigo offers people an insiders guide and insight to the things to do and places to go in major cities such as New York City. Vindigo instantly adapts to a user's location and interests to serve as a lifestyle resource for on-the-fly activities and decisions. Users tell Vindigo where they are, by selecting the intersection, and what they want to do. Vindigo can then make suggestions based on their interests and provides directions to the specified destination.
"Our goal at Vindigo is to give people the information they need to make informed decisions about what they want to do and where they want to go, no matter where they are," said Jason Devitt, Vindigo's CEO. "Our partnership with Times Company Digital and NYToday.com reinforces this goal and adds an exciting new dimension to the Vindigo experience. Now, when someone is searching Vindigo for a great place to go, they'll be able to access the opinions of some of the nation's most respected reviewers."
Sharing Information - Sharing Vindigo - Sharing Excitement
While many Palm applications allow data to be beamed from one user to another, Vindigo goes one better - the application itself can be beamed. To let a new user begin experiencing the benefits of Vindigo immediately, the restaurant section and current movie listings are sent along with the application. Upgrading to the complete application, at no cost, can be done later by downloading it from either the Vindigo or the NYToday.com web sites. On average, Vindigo has already been beamed by about 40 percent of the people who initially downloaded the application. Almost 40 percent of the recipients have since registered and downloaded the complete application.
System Requirements
Vindigo is compatible with all devices based on the Palm OS(TM) and will take approximately 450K of memory, but it is recommended that the handheld have 550K of free space.. Compatible devices include the Palm III, PalmV and Palm VII (in offline mode) series from Palm Inc., the Handspring Visor, IBM WorkPad and the Symbol Technologies SPT 1500 and 1700 series. System requirements for the desktop component of the software are Windows 95 or later (Windows NT users require service pack 3), Netscape Navigator 3.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher and Palm Hotsync Manager 2.0.
Availability
Vindigo New York is available immediately, free-of-charge, from the Vindigo website at www.Vindigo.com or from NYToday.com at www.nytoday.com. Additional versions of Vindigo for the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, DC will be available within the next 60 days.
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