The presidential Inauguration may be one of the biggest events to hit Capitol Hill and The Washington Post is helping its readers stay up-to-date during the affair.

Post readers who are in the Washington area specifically for the event or those who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of it can get the latest traffic, parking, transit issues and escape routes right to their mobile phones.

"We are doing things online and in print and we wanted mobile to be a part of our communication strategy during the event," said Peter Barclay, director of mobile services at Washington Post Digital, Washington. "The mobile element is to add convenience."

Consumers can visit http://www.twp.com/inauguration to get information on the event.

To receive test message alerts around the event, consumers are asked to text the keyword INAUG to the 97678 (WPOST) short code to receive upto 30 messages.

Additionally, consumers can help by sending information and tips on what they are experiencing by texting DCALERT to 97678. Useful information will be reported to the opted-in group.

This service will begin at 5 a.m. Eastern time on Jan. 20 and will run the entire day and evening.

Additionally, after the inauguration, opted-in consumers will continue to receive relevant Washington area and national news alerts.

To opt out, users can text STOP NEWS to 97678.

This isn't the Post's first foray into mobile.

The publication provides consumers with Washington-area dining, nightlife and events on its Going Out Guide, which is an iPhone application.

The Going Out Guide lets people search local restaurants, bars, clubs and movies. They can browse by cuisine, recent reviews, top picks and neighborhood.

Additionally, users can read restaurant and movie reviews from Washington Post critics and even get the address, cost and other essentials.

The Washington Post has a mobile site at http://mobile.twp.com. The site features the day's top stories, updated around the clock.

The site also includes the latest news and commentary from its political team as well as editorials and commentary from writers, political, sports and tech blogs. The latest news from Hollywood is reported, too.

In another offering, the Post provides breaking news alerts to consumers who want to be the first to know when major world and national news breaks. All they have to do is text NEWS to 97678.

"This is part of a larger strategy of getting all the various channels to communicate with our customers," Mr. Barclay said. "Not everyone is going to have their PC with them in Washington, but I am sure the majority will have their mobile phones."