8th February 2002

Espotting and Pogo - first to go wireless with paid content

Espotting, Europe's No 1 performance based advertising medium, is the first paid content provider to go wireless, delivering its pay-per-click search results to the new Pogo - the UK's first hand-held mobile internet device.

Espotting Media - whose pay-per-click search engine currently powers ½ billion search results a month across Europe - has been named the default search provider for the Pogo because of its advanced technological capabilities.

Espotting Media has designed a search interface specifically for the Pogo. A search box complemented by the Espotting logo will be displayed when users request the "search the web" function from their Pogo. Espotting's top 3 results will be displayed on screen, complete with advertisers' logos, titles and descriptions in a format optimised for the Pogo screen. Users can access the next set of listings by clicking onto the next screen.

"Our advertisers will now benefit from consumers buying products on the move. By delivering our results to Pogo, we are taking our advertisers to consumers in taxis, on the bus or just walking along the high street.

"Espotting's main precepts are relevancy and revenue. Pogo users will receive highly relevant search results that have been specifically designed for that medium - creating the optimum user experience. Pogo - the leaders in wireless technology innovation - have created another revenue stream by choosing a pay-per-click search engine as their default search provider and advertisers will generate revenue by reaching internet users no longer bound to their PC. " Daniel Ishag, co-founder, Espotting Media.

The greatly anticipated Pogo offers full colour internet browsing at PC speed, combined with e-mail, MP3 and telephone on a futuristic, light-weight handheld device. Pogo's compression technology means that the GSM device is able to deliver full colour web pages on its 3.8 inch colour screen at the same speed as a standard 56k home modem connection.

The Pogo device sets itself apart from business oriented rival products as an easy to use lifestyle accessory for young urban style-leaders. Pogo has equipped the new mobile generation with affordable, complete Internet services on the move, without the wait for 3G. The Pogo is now on sale exclusively at the Carphone Warehouse, priced £299 (with a one-off connection charge of £30 to the 'Fresh' tariff*).

"We chose Espotting because it is miles ahead of its competitors in technological terms. Because of its advanced technological capabilities, Espotting is able to deliver us paid content over our wireless network, which nobody else can do." Tim Critchley, Founder, Pogo Technologies.

The deal marks another major landmark for Espotting Media - Jupiter MMXI's top 10 companies set for success in 2002. The market leader in performance based advertising in the UK, Germany and France, Espotting announced Yahoo!Europe as an affiliate in January. Espotting now powers ½ billion search results across Europe and has a reach of 72%, 70% and 50% in the UK, France and Germany respectively. Espotting will be launching in Italy and Spain later in the year, retaining its Number 1 status in both these territories. Espotting currently has 5,000 advertisers, such as Orange, Procter & Gamble, Direct Line, Norwich Union Direct, eBay and beeb.com and a 1,000 strong affiliate network, including major ISP's portals and search engines such as Yahoo! Europe, Lycos Europe, Ask Jeeves LookSmart, ntl:home, Netscape, UK Plus, AltaVista and the chain of easyinternet cafes.

back >>