Go2 added to Verizon mobile deck

By Giselle Abramovich

January 7, 2008

Lee Hancock, founder of go2

Mobile media company go2 Media has been added to Verizon Wireless’ mobile deck, giving users access to local information.

Verizon mobile Web customers will now have access to the go2 search and directory services directly from the wireless carrier’s phones under the local category. Customers will be able to get the destinations of their choice and receive localized information on their mobile devices.

“We are a very pro-carrier mobile media company,” said Lee Hancock, founder of go2, Boston. “We have a good relationship with most of the other carriers.”

Go2 provides local content to mobile phone users across U.S. carriers. Nielsen Mobile ranks it as one of the top 20 mobile Web sites in terms of unique monthly users. Every month, mobile phone users access go2 content more than 2 million times.

The go2 service includes a local search feature that can find restaurants, movies, golf courses, dry cleaners and manicurists. Other go2-specialized mobile sites accessible from the go2 main site include go2 Colleges, go2 Pets, go2 Golf and go2 Movies.

Go2 also offers one-touch calling and turn-by-turn driving directions, as well as the ability to receive updated local information via text messages.

Advertisers include ABC, Acura, American Express, AOL, Delta, ExxonMobil, Holiday Inn, MasterCard, Nikon, Nokia, Purina, SBC, Shell, Sony and Visa.

“We are trying to meet the needs of Verizon users and to better serve local mobile content and monetize all this through advertising,” Mr. Hancock said.