Just Ask Promptu: Promptu Launches Voice-Activated Mobile Search Business

Just Ask Promptu: Promptu Launches Voice-Activated Mobile Search Business

AgileTV Becomes Promptu, Focusing on Cross-Platform Opportunities in Mobile, Cable, and Other Industries

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Promptu, a leading innovator of voice-activated search and navigation services, announced today that it is bringing its award-winning technology to the mobile marketplace for the first time. Promptu will enable mobile subscribers to use their voice to search for, discover, and easily purchase content on their handsets simply by asking for it. Concurrently, AgileTV, which first developed Promptu for the cable television industry, is formally changing its name to Promptu as the company expands its focus to serve mobile, cable, and other emerging industries.

"With the exponential growth in available mobile content, consumers now need a simple way to find, discover and easily purchase all the content that carriers offer," said Paul Cook, chairman and CEO, Promptu. "Why not simply empower subscribers to ask for what they want? Voice is the natural solution to mobile's navigational and interface constraints, and with Promptu's voice-controlled search, mobile subscribers will be able to find, discover and purchase content on their handset more quickly and easily than ever before."

Promptu provides mobile subscribers easy access to the vast library of content offered by their wireless carrier whether its music, videos, ringtones, games, wallpapers, or other applications. Once a carrier has deployed Promptu's economical and scalable network-based solution, consumers can use a simple, phone-based application to search for content by title, personality, brand or genre simply by pressing one button and issuing a voice command rather than going through countless clicks and scrolls on their handset. To search with Promptu, users say a voice command such as "Find Coldplay" or "Find ESPN" into their handset and results are returned within a few seconds.

"The current method of countless clicks and scrolls to search and buy mobile content can be a frustrating experience for users, and too many abandon their searches altogether," said Brady O. Bruce, recently appointed senior vice president of Telecom Products and Services who leads Promptu's mobile business initiatives. "With Promptu's voice-controlled search, subscribers can find content within a few seconds, enabling operators to increase ARPU and offer a competitive differentiator that increases customer satisfaction."

In a study conducted by research firm Greenfield Online, 75 percent of the study group said the availability of voice-enabled search would affect their choice of carrier; 63 percent said they would buy more mobile downloads with Promptu; and 80 percent said they were interested or very interested in having Promptu on their mobile phone.

Promptu was developed with direct input from mobile operators and integrates with existing networks, phones and content provisioning systems. In addition to working with the world's most popular phones and technologies, Promptu delivers the highest quality voice recognition accuracy in the industry, while supporting searches across operators' extensive content catalogs.

Promptu will showcase its new mobile technology during the upcoming CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas, April 5-7. Operators and prospective partners can reserve a meeting with Promptu at the company's executive demo suite in the Las Vegas Hilton by calling 1-800-249-9801. Mobile operators interested in acquiring more information about Promptu's server-based network solution can contact 650-859-5800 or visit www.promptu.com.

About Promptu:

Promptu, formerly AgileTV, is a leading innovator of voice-activated search and navigation services serving the cable, mobile, and other emerging industries. The company's award-winning technology lets people use their voice -- their own words -- to quickly and easily find the kinds of content they want and enjoy. Founded in April 2000, Promptu is privately held. The company is based in Menlo Park, California, and is led by a senior executive team with extensive backgrounds in voice recognition, mobile, cable television, consumer products, and system integration. The company's major equity holders include Valence Capital Management LP, Insight Communications, Lauder Partners and private investors. For more information: www.promptu.com.

Source: Promptu

CONTACT: Jeremy Pemble of JLM Partners, +1-206-381-3600, or
Jeremy@jlmpartners.com, for Promptu

Web site: http://www.promptu.com/

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