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News Articles
MCN Launches New "SMS Triggered Search" With Thailand's Three Mobile Operators
June 23, 2008 Bangkok, Thailand and Tokyo, Japan --- Mobile Content Networks (MCN) the leading provider of real-time Federated mobile search solutions today announced that Thailand's leading mobile operators (AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove) have selected MCN to launch text message, or short message service (SMS) triggered search using a common shortcode. Now nearly 50,000,000 mobile phone users in Thailand can simply text 4530111 to initiate realtime search connections to hundreds of thousands of downloadable content items in popular mobile content categories like Music, Images, and Games, and can get the content they want in 2-3 clicks directly from local content sources. The new MCN-powered SMS Triggered Search services build on the highly successful WAP-based search applications that MCN has powered for all three operators since early 2007. For over a year we.ve shown our unique ability to provide direct, real-time, high value WAP search results for each partner in Thailand under their own brand and business rules, said MCN CEO Marc Bookman. With SMS Triggered Search we now dramatically expand the addressable market for transaction-focused digital content discovery not only in Thailand but also across dozens of other emerging and mature mobile markets. SMS is a central part of daily life for hundreds of millions of mobile users and is the primary starting point for use of wireless data services. MCN plans to be at the heart of a new generation of SMS-based digital content discovery applications throughout the region, and the globe. Recent data from leading research firm ABI Research confirms the importance of SMS-based content discovery: .The market for SMS search will see significant growth worldwide, with Asia-Pacific driving much of the growth.overall SMS search queries will grow from 12.9 billion in 2008 to 76 billion in 2013. MCN-powered WAP search has provided a consistent, high quality, real-time mobile search experience for DTAC subscribers since March, 2007,. said Pakorn Pannachet, Senior Vice President, VAS. .Now, with our new DTAC Content Search Services we are excited to bring this same experience to all of our SMS users, and believe the use of the common 453011 shortcode will dramatically accelerate mobile content discovery and sales. As Thailand's leading converged services provider we know that users want easy, relevant search experiences across all platforms,. said Mr. Piroon Paireepairit, Director, Multimedia Services, Content, and Marketing for TrueMove. .With TrueMove SMS Search we are now the first in Thailand to bring easy content discovery all the way from the desktop to the bus stop via the mobile phone. Thanks to our strong partnership with MCN we are preparing to expand content channels and related search services for all of our users.. About MCN MCN (Mobile Content Networks) provides mobile search management and monetization solutions that deliver the most direct, profitable connections between mobile users and the content and information they want to consume on their phones. Since 2004 MCN has pioneered Real-Time Federated Search Management, as well as the mobile industry's highest performing paid search programs, and today reaches more than 200,000,000 mobile users worldwide in partnership with leading mobile network operators, portals, handset makers, and content providers. MobileSearch.net, the MCN white label solution, delivers relevant, actionable results across both WAP and SMS in high value .vertical. content categories (Music, Images, Games, Video, Local, etc) in 2-3 clicks, in any language, and across any mobile network and mobile device. MobileSearch.net launches in weeks, and connects directly to any local or global content source or search engine specified by MCN.s partners to deliver mobile search services under their brand and business rules. With the MCN vertical paid search program allwords(sm), the mobile industry.s highest performing PPC mobile content promotion program, MCN has created new revenue opportunities for mobile operators and portals and the most efficient, profitable paid search promotion method for content providers. MCN launched MobileSearch.net services in Finland in November, 2005 and now powers more than 20 mobile operator and portal search applications worldwide, including services in Japan for Yahoo! Japan Mobile, and NTT DoCoMo, all three operators in Thailand (AIS, DTAC, and True), Scandinavia.s Tele2, Elisa, and DNA, and other customers in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. MCN's business operations are headquartered in Tokyo, with its research and product development center in Mountain View, CA. MCN has sales offices in Finland, the U.K., the Netherlands,Thailand, and the U.S., and technical operations in Japan, the U.S, and Europe. About DTAC Total Access Communication Public Company Limited or "DTAC" is one of the leading telecommunication services providers in Thailand, supporting more than 15,000,000 mobile users. Founded in August 1989, it operates 800 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands under a concession granted by the Communications Authority of Thailand ("CAT"). About TrueMove TrueMove, a subsidiary of True Corporation Plc, Thailand.s only fully integrated communications solutions provider, convergence solutions leader, and premier lifestyle enabler, offers innovative and high quality wireless communications services on its nationwide 1800MHz network to 12.4 million subscribers (March, 2008) throughout Thailand. TrueMove.s vision is to create a pioneering wireless hi-speed lifestyle where people can communicate as well as access knowledge, information, and entertainment whenever, wherever, and however they wish. The company delivers superior coverage, quality, and best value services, leveraging its relationshps with True Corporation and the CP Group. TrueMove offers unique integrated products and services to the Thai market. For more information please visit www.truemove.com or www.truecorp.co.th. About ADVANCED INFO SERVICE PLC. (AIS) With over 23,000,000 subscribers AIS is Thailand.s largest mobile operator. Formed in 1990, Advanced Info Service Plc. was awarded the Concession from the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) to invest and operate a mobile phone network in the frequency of 900 MHz for 20 years. AIS has continuously enhanced and expanded its network in order to respond to the market and technological advances, while keeping abreast of consumers. growing demands and needs. It continues to integrate the latest in advanced technology and deliver more than just voice communication, with GPRS and EDGE technology. www.ais.co.th
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