LOCATIONET POWERS TELEGATE’S 11 88 0 MOBILE LOCAL SEARCH AND NAVIGATION SERVICE

European information services provider Telegate AG has teamed up with LocatioNet Systems Ltd. to debut a free ad-funded mobile local search and GPS navigation service. It lets users search in the 11 88 0 directory for businesses in Germany, and lets them view results on a detailed map. Users can also choose to get visual and voice guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation to the desired address. It can also calculate the fastest routes between two locations, save and manage personal favorites list, and offers five days weather forecast. The service is powered by LocatioNet’s amAze. Mobile users can directly get the application for free from navi.11880.com or via www.11880.com. The ad-funded service is free but data charges may apply according to the mobile users’ data plans. Users will receive ad banners that will be presented to them only in idle moment of usage. The ads can include special offers and coupons offered by local merchants. The 11 88 0 directory service currently covers Germany and the mapping and navigation service is covering Europe, North America, Middle East, Australia, parts of Asia and South Africa with additional coverage being updated. -Smarajit Dasgupta

KGB TO ACQUIRE SMS SEARCH PROVIDER TEXPERTS

DA provider kgb has acquired UK-based SMS search company Texperts. The acquisition is expected to enhance kgb's ability to build on its text advertising program TXT//Ads, which launched in the UK in 2007. "Texperts is a perfect strategic fit for kgb as we continue to grow our SMS mobile find businesses across Europe and North America. With their innovative software platform and industry experience, Texperts will enable us to serve our millions of customers better," said kgb CEO of Mobile and Digital Services, Bruce Stewart. "At kgb we have built our reputation on bringing millions of consumers immediate, specific, accurate, and convenient answers to their questions 24 hours a day via phone, text, and the Internet. Acquiring Texperts will extend our strength in that space and broaden our capability to better serve our customers, as well as the advertisers who want to reach them." -Smarajit Dasgupta

TAPTU RAISES UK₤ 6.45 MILLION, APPOINTS NEW COO

Mobile search engine Taptu has raised UK₤ 6.45 million in a series B funding round from its existing investors 3i and Sofinnova. The funding is expected to be used to accelerate Taptu's continued growth over the next twelve months. UK-based Taptu has also appointed Andreas Bernstrom as the Chief Operating Officer. Bernstrom will be part of Taptu's senior management team, responsible for managing the company's commercial growth and formalizing Taptu's mobile advertising position worldwide. Previously, he was COO at Internet marketing company TradeDoubler. -Smarajit Dasgupta

BELGACOM LAUNCHES MOBILE DIRECTORY SOLUTION

Belgian provider of telecommunications services Belgacom has launched a new “mailbox” service that allows callers to leave voice mail on nearly 2 million of the estimated 10.6 million Belgian mobile phones. Belgacom says that the service is being offered by Proximus, the brand under which Belgacom's wholly-owned mobile subsidiary Belgacom Mobile markets mobile services, and Belgacom brands 1307, 1207, 1405, and 1407, the dialing codes under which Belgacom offers French, Dutch, English, and German directory assistance (DA). Belgacom reports that Belgacom Mobile served 4.6 million customers and 43.8% of the market of active customers as of the end of 2007. Belgacom, which has maintained its dominant market share in the DA market in part because of the fact that the regulator did not adopt a 118xxx dialing code, receives 140,000 calls each work day and 42 million calls annually. Belgacom sees that its DA volume is decreasing approximately 5% annually, considers the Internet to be its biggest competitor, and hopes that its new mailbox service will help reduce the decline in its DA volume.

Until the launch of this mailbox service, callers to Belgacom’s DA service could obtain numbers for 95% of the fixed lines that were listed but only approximately 4% of the mobile numbers for those mobile customers who chose to opt-in to the DA service. An estimated 30% of subscribers are mobile-only customers, and 95% of Belgian mobile subscribers have voice mail. With the launch of the new mailbox service, when callers ask for a listing of a mobile subscriber who has not opted-in to the directory database, the caller is given the opportunity to be connected to the voice mailbox of the “called” party. The called party is notified of the voice message and may do with it what they wish.

Belgacom’s DA service is available to every Belgian subscriber. DA charges are approximately 1.25 EUR from fixed lines and 1.40 EUR from mobile phones. There is no charge to retrieve voice messages. Mobile customers were notified in advance of the launch that this service was going to be implemented, they were given the option to opt-out of the service, and may opt-out of the service at any time. Approximately 100 customers have opted-out so far. There is no charge to opt-out.

While Belgacom Mobile reports 4.6 million mobile customers, less than 2 million listings are initially available because approximately half of Belgian Mobile subscribers are prepaid, about whom Belgacom does not have listing information, and because Belgacom chose to initially include residential listings only. Belgacom hopes that other Belgian mobile carriers decide to participate and make their listings available. Prior to this launch, Belgacom had approximately 4 million fixed and 400 thousand mobile listings. Belgacom has 480 operators in 10 call centers in Brussels, Antwerp, Roeselare, Aalst, Hasselt, Mons, Charleroi, Namur, Liège and Eupen.

Many carriers and DA service providers throughout Europe and elsewhere in the world have been looking for ways to better serve mobile customers, and will be looking to see whether Belgacom’s offering will be a success. -Stuart Whitaker

LOOPT LAUNCHES ANDROID APPLICATION

Social-mapping and communication service Loopt has launched its Android application. The application includes the major Loopt features including background location updating which enables users to receive alerts when a friend is closely. Users can also switch between map modes for a satellite view of their friend map or to monitor traffic delays. Loopt users can also share their information with sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter or personal blogs and websites. Loopt is currently supported on more than 100 handsets including the iPhone and BlackBerry and is now available on select phones with the Android Market. Loopt users can share their location between carrier networks with fellow Loopt users on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Boost, MetroPCS, and T-Mobile. -Smarajit Dasgupta