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Thomson Local taps mobile app for local business search

Thomson Local is providing mobile consumers directory information for more than 1.8 million British businesses via an iPhone application. 

The company partnered with Mobile Commerce for the application. Consumers can also read ratings and reviews via the application.

?Local search has been at the heart of our company for 30 years,? said Marx Cox, spokesman for Thomson Local, Britain. ?Our new app reinforces our local position by delivering content to users in their immediate location, quickly and reliably.

?The way people search for local businesses has evolved over recent years, with new technology available to help find what people are looking for,? he said. ?It is important that we give people the information they require at the point of need, be that through printed or online search or through mobile.

?Furthermore, we add value to our service by providing enhanced content such as user ratings and reviews, and video clips allowing people to make better informed purchasing decisions.?

Thomson Local is a local search company in the Britain with business listings available in both print and online.

Mobile Commerce provides content and creative services to network carriers and brands over SMS, mobile Internet, Java and iPhone.

Users can browse by categories or search for information on any business near their location or anywhere in Britain.

After the search, users can view results that can be displayed as a list or on a map.

?The beauty of local search is that information is available to all, and our new iPhone app allows people to access this information across a multitude of media,? Mr. Cox said.

Thomson Local iPhone app

Additionally, users can rate and review any business.

The application had several features, including a click-to-call button.

There is also an ?Add Business as a Contact? feature and users can email searches to friends.

Users can search for businesses via the app

?We have recently released a beta version of the ThomsonLocal.com homepage, and there will be further developments across our mobile search applications in the coming months,? Mr. Cox said.

Final Take
Rimma Kats is editorial assistant at Mobile Marketer, New York