Vicinity Corp. (Nasdaq:VCNT), a leader in Internet-based marketing infrastructure services, today announced the availability of Vicinity BrandFinder(SM) and MapBlast!(R) applications on certain future Palm(TM) handheld computers.
BrandFinder, which will be bundled with future Palm handhelds, provides wirelessly enabled Palm handheld users with comprehensive information on hundreds of favorite brands and millions of bricks-and-mortar locations, along with turn-by-turn driving directions. MapBlast!, Vicinity's award-winning provider of interactive maps and door-to-door driving directions, will also be included with various future Palm handhelds.
With BrandFinder, users can easily select from a number of categories including "Food," "Clothing/Shoes," and "Banking." By selecting a category, the user is provided with a list of top brands to select from. Users then have the option of searching for the closest location of a selected brand or looking for a provider in a selected category without specifying a particular brand. Users can indicate their location by entering their zip code or street address or they can use the "AutoFind" feature on wirelessly enabled Palm handhelds to have the handheld automatically determine the user's location. Once a desired location is found, users may obtain driving directions at the click of a button. In the future, Vicinity plans to include attribute information for various brick-and-mortar locations, such as identifying McDonald's restaurants with childrens' Playlands or indicating the last pick-up time at particular FedEx drop-off location.
With MapBlast!, users can enter a street address (or starting and ending addresses) and receive a detailed map of the area and door-to-door driving directions. MapBlast is an ideal resource for wirelessly enabled Palm handheld users, helping them find their destinations whenever they need assistance.
"The inclusion of the Vicinity BrandFinder service and MapBlast! on future Palm handhelds results in a comprehensive and meaningful wireless Internet experience," said Emerick Woods, president and CEO of Vicinity Corp. "Location-based applications are killer apps for wirelessly enabled Palm handhelds and its users."
In addition, Vicinity has established the following wireless partnerships:
-- AT&T PocketNet Service will distribute Vicinity BrandFinder
and ATM Finder over its service.
-- GTE Wireless Service will distribute Vicinity BrandFinder and
MapBlast! over its service.
-- OmniSky is currently distributing Vicinity BrandFinder and MapBlast! over OmniSky-enabled Palm V handhelds and, later
this year, Win CE and other handheld devices.
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