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CBS launches severe weather mobile resource

CBS has launched the "CBS Mobile News Hurricane Center," a made-for-mobile severe weather resource that allows users to view late-breaking and targeted thunderstorm and hurricane updates.

CBS partnered with AccuWeather.com and Quattro Wireless for this mobile initiative. Mobile users will be able to access detailed statistics such as hurricane positions, projected storm paths and the latest category rating for storms in their area.

"Our strategy is to work with major partners like CBS News Mobile to consistently provide the weather forecasts that users need," said David Mitchell, director of wireless services for AccuWeather.com, State College, PA.

"We are pleased to partner with a marquis brand on the mobile Web like CBS News Mobile in bringing this vital -- even potentially life-saving -- information to their audience," he said.

The CBS Mobile News Hurricane Center is housed on the CBS News Mobile Web site at http://storm.cbsnews.com.

When visiting the hurricane center, users will be invited to register using their ZIP code to ensure immediate access to their local information whenever they visit the site.

"Our strategy is to continue the personalization of experiences on the phone," said Jeff Sellinger executive vice president at CBS Mobile, New York. "The mobile phone is the most personal device and by making its content even more personal, we are making it more valuable for the consumer."

CBS Mobile has been committed to creating made-for-mobile entertainment and news content, so it made perfect sense to add weather-related information as well.

Through AccuWeather.com all weather updates are available in near real-time, allowing mobile Web and iPhone users the ability to access live radar updates and storm tracker information 24/7 from AccuWeather.com meteorologists.

"AccuWeather.com is a great partner and we are using GPS information to target the hurricane news down," Mr. Sellinger said. "That means if they are traveling we will automatically travel along with them."
This service is available to all mobile Web users but is particularly optimized to take advantage of iPhone capabilities.

Quattro created the hurricane center and using its platform, CBS Mobile can extend its brand and broaden its audience.

Quattro will sell and serve ads on behalf of CBS Mobile.

Big brands like Toyota, Land Rover, American Express, Sony, the U.S. Navy and Microsoft are advertising on Quattro's mobile ad network.

By partnering with Quattro Wireless, CBS Mobile offers mobile users geo-targeted information based on content from the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service on Hurricane Warnings and Hurricane Watches.