Smartshop.com Enhances its Wireless Capabilities

Leading Comparison Shopping ASP Now Provides Consumers with the Unique Ability to Make Purchases via Web-enabled Handheld Devices & Mobile Phones

Smartshop.com, the leading comparison shopping application service provider (ASP) to both large and small Internet portals and content sites, today announced several key enhancements to its wireless capability that lets consumers browse, research, and compare prices using wireless Web-enabled mobile phones and handheld devices.

The most noteworthy of these enhancements is the ability for shoppers to actually buy merchandise directly from their mobile phones. Amazon.com and Buy.com are the first two merchant sites that Smartshop.com has enabled with this new buying feature. This extra level of purchasing convenience is unique to Smartshop.com, and is especially valuable for today's time-constrained consumers. In addition, the Smartshop.com WAP program now features Books, Music, and Video categories, with each category type having its own search display page. For example, now a General search can be conducted by both keyword and by categories; books can be searched by author, title, and ISBN, music by artist, album, and track, and videos by title, actor, and director.

Other wireless enhancements implemented by Smartshop.com include the addition of a customer service e-mail address in the HELP section, as well as provision for enhanced formatting for Palm devices (i.e., tables, better links, etc.)

"These enhancements represent the second phase of our wireless implementation, and demonstrate once again our commitment to continually add value to Smartshop.com," said Jeff Savage, Chief Executive Officer of Smartshop.com. "The ability for users to purchase goods directly from their Web-enabled wireless devices is truly an industry first, one that we anticipate will be warmly embraced by Web-based consumers."

Users can either download the Smartshop.com wireless program into a Palm VII from a link at www.smartshop.com or bookmark "wireless.smartshop.com" on their cell phones. They can then use the application on the road, in a store or anywhere else to search for desired products by category or keyword. After focusing in on their preferred source by price, product features or other variables, users will be able to add their selections to their smartshop.com shopping list for purchase from their PCs.

All searches are done without leaving the system, allowing product descriptions to be offered in a common, unbiased format that eliminates the marketing hype found on individual merchant sites. All merchants carrying a given product are displayed in a consolidated list for easy comparison of pricing, special promotions, availability, shipping method, credit cards accepted and return policies. Pricing quotes include "hidden" costs such as shipping, handling and taxes.

Smartshop.com's wireless application was built by iConverse, a leading provider of wireless application products and services. iConverse's wireless application platform allows smartshop.com to optimize the different formats, capabilities and screen sizes of wireless devices, providing customized content and delivering a rich end-user experience for each type of device.

Smartshop.com also recently announced the creation of its Brand Site in About.com community. This site is designed to offer consumers another resource when researching products and trends online, while introducing them to the Smartshop.com comparison shopping service.

For more information regarding Smartshop.com's wireless capabilities, contact the company by phone at 408-778-8303 or visit www.smartshop.com. Consumers interested in the SmartShop.com Partner Brand Site on About.com should visit:

http://home.about.com/shopping/index.htm?PM=59_0215_T, and under "Shopping Partners" click on "Smartshop.com."


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