Consumers using an iPhone who are frustrated by getting stuck in traffic jams now have a new and free way to expedite their journey.

Mobileyes is a live, video application that literally shows where traffic is moving around town -- and where it's not. It is now available as a free download from the travel section of the iTunes App Store.

"With the massive popularity of the iPhone comes our development of an interactive display ad that will offer up a choice of click to a Web site or click to call," said Eric Joseph, president and chief operating officer of 3rd Dimension, New York.

"We have also developed three video settings -- low, medium and high -- for increased detail in the viewing experience," he said.

"To date, we have been a success on the iPhone App store, with more than 60,000 downloads of our traffic application in the past three weeks, and more than 500,000 ad views served in that same time period. So far, the strategy seems to be working well."

The service by mobile marketing and application company 3rd Dimension lets commuters in major U.S. metropolitan areas access live video and still images of roadways from their iPhone and iPod touch devices.

"The download is free for the consumer, so the advertising that is served while -- and only as long as -- the individual cameras are loading is the only revenue created," Mr. Joseph said.

"Since it does require a significant amount of data to deliver the video, we usually recommend that users get an unlimited data plan but with the iPhone, it is a non-issue because all users have unlimited data," he said.

"Therefore, the Mobileyes application is truly free to both travelers and to the state agencies that supply the video."

Tens of thousands of drivers across the country are said to have already downloaded Mobileyes onto other mobile devices.

The service is compatible with data-enabled phones on the Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile networks, including BlackBerry, Palm Treo and Windows Mobile smartphones.

Now iPhone users can also access thousands of traffic cameras operated by the local departments of transportation in an expanding network of cities including Detroit; Houston; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles; New York; Knoxville, TN; Hartford, CT; and Washington.

"We have many more planned in the top 50 DMAs," Mr. Joseph said.

When downloading the application, consumers can check the full range of cities and pick the one where they live or commute in most.

The application also includes "travel" mode, located in "settings," where drivers can switch to other regions on the network that they will be visiting.

"The iPhone user in Washington who is heading to New York will be able to quickly pre-set New York cams for their visit in the Big Apple," Mr. Joseph said.

Commuters without an Apple device may also download Mobileyes by visiting http://www.freetrafficcams.com and requesting the service by entering their mobile phone number.

Once the application is downloaded, drivers can choose to view real-time traffic images from any of the cameras along their route and can program keys on their phone to quickly access their favorites.

IPhone users can select between low, medium and high resolution images, which will speed or slow camera load time on their devices.

3rd Dimension has a variety of media partners and plans to add several more before the end of 2008.

"Our biggest and certainly most active relationship is with NBC TV," Mr. Joseph said. "Wherever they have an owned-and-operated station, we make the Traffic Cam application available to their viewers.

"Any affiliates, should they choose to participate, are extended similar terms to the over-arching agreement," he said.

"They promote the service as a public interest benefit and sell the ads as part of a media bundle which includes broadcast, interactive and now a mobile application to complement their text messaging advertising."

To date, 3rd Dimension has hosted advertising from McDonald's, BMW, Safe Auto Insurance, Cap Fed Financial Services, Kahlo Jeep and several other local and national clients.

"All of these advertisers wanted to be in media that offered them a point of distinction, and we made sure they were afforded exactly that opportunity," Mr. Joseph said.

"We're hopeful that any brand with the goal of promoting itself in a new or NTR space will see the benefit of a national interactive ad being viewed hundreds of thousands of times per month by engaged travelers."