Press Releases
AskMeNow Selects Jingle Networks to Promote ASKME (27563) on the 1-800-FREE411 Network 1-800-FREE411 Service Processed 85 Million Calls in First 12 Months; Total Capitalization Exceeds $60M
October 25, 2006 – Irvine & Menlo Park, Calif.AskMeNow, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ocean West Holding Corporation (OTCBB: OWHC), today announced a national advertising campaign to promote its ASKME (27563) SMS product with Jingle Networks, Inc., operator of the 1-800-FREE411 directory assistance service.
1-800-FREE411 mobile customers will receive targeted SMS ads promoting an all-inclusive ASKME (27563) intelligent mobile answer service. The offer will include access to all of the information on the Internet including Weather, Directions, Sports Scores, Horoscopes, Stock Quotes, Movie Times & Locations, News, Daily Word/Joke/Quote and Flight and Hotel information – all for a low, monthly subscription.
1-800-FREE411 is the nation’s leading free alternative to the traditional 411 services provided by landline carriers and mobile phone companies. Instead of paying between $1 and $2 for each call, consumers may hear short marketing offers and are then given the opportunity to either respond or to continue with their lookup request. Jingle now accounts for almost three percent of DA calls in the U.S., processing than 15 million calls per month – sixty percent of which are placed from a mobile phone.
“The 1-800-FREE411 campaign follows on the heels of our national cable television advertising campaign launched in September,” says AskMeNow CEO, Darryl Cohen. “Directory assistance has been a huge driver of mobile initiated questions and with the popularity of Jingle’s 1-800-FREE411 service, we believe the ability to ask any question, on any topic will bring additional value and generate a large amount of interest from mobile customers.”
“Mobile devices are quickly becoming a mainstream branding channel through which companies can deliver marketing campaigns that generate results far superior to other mass media channels,” said John Roswech, Senior Vice President of Sales for Jingle. “Our 1-800-FREE411 service creates an ideal platform for reaching millions of mobile phone users in a targeted, engaging and clutter-free environment. By displaying their ads in conjunction with the requested listing from our FREE411 service, AskMeNow is tapping into this highly interactive medium which directs consumers to their mobile answer service in a targeted, direct response manner.”
AskMeNow advertisements will be displayed on the text messages containing 411 listings that have been requested by 1-800-FREE411 users. These SMS ads will direct customers to register for AskMeNow by texting the promotion code ‘F411’ to ASKME (27563).
About AskMeNow
AskMeNow, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ocean West Holding Corporation,
is the easiest, most convenient way to access information
on the Internet or from local content from your cell phone
or mobile PDA device. The first mobile lifestyle network,
AskMeNow utilizes its proprietary technology to offer a natural
language based interaction and dynamic content provision
platform designed for simple and quick information retrieval.
The Company generates revenues through per usage fees and
one to one contextual mobile advertising sponsorships. AskMeNow
launched officially in November 2005. The Company is based
in Irvine, California. Please visit www.askmenow.com for
more information.
About Jingle Networks & 1-800-FREE411Jingle Networks, operator of the nation’s leading ad-supported directory assistance service 1-800-FREE411, has significantly changed the directory assistance market by giving consumers an anytime, anywhere source of free information on the phone. 1-800-FREE411 is for anyone who owns a phone and needs information but is dissatisfied with the high cost of directory assistance. Jingle Networks has changed the industry by creating an exciting new media channel through 1-800-FREE411. With nearly 130 million annual calls, 1-800-FREE411 offers advertisers highly targeted and timely promotional opportunities to reach a large but targeted customer base who are ready-to-buy, garnering a response rate twice that of other direct response media. For more information, visit: www.free411.com.
For Media Inquiries
Deann Mayeda
415-591-8404
dmayeda@shiftcomm.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements which are
not historical or current fact and constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of such term in Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking
statements include “the ability to ask any question,
on any topic will bring additional value and generate
a large amount of interest from mobile customers.” Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause
the actual financial or operating results of the Company
or AskMeNow to be materially different from the historical
results or from any future results expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Such forward looking
statements are based on our best estimates of future
results, performance or achievements, based on current
conditions and the most recent results of the Company
and AskMeNow. In addition to statements which explicitly
describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged
to consider statements labeled with the terms may, will,
potential, opportunity, belies, belier, expects, intends,
estimates, anticipates or plans which are uncertain and
forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained
herein are also subject generally to other risks and
uncertainties that are described from time to time in
the Company’s reports and registration statements
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
