Press Release

YELLOWPAGES.COM Launches Next Generation Mapping

  • First and Only Internet Yellow Pages to Offer Consumers Road, Aerial and Bird's Eye Photo Images

PASADENA, Calif., April 21, 2006

YELLOWPAGES.COM today announced the launch of its next generation mapping that gives consumers more options for mapping, viewing and connecting with local businesses.

After an evaluation process, YELLOWPAGES.COM selected Microsoft's Virtual Earth platform to power the mapping and location imagery offerings provided through the YELLOWPAGES.COM website. YELLOWPAGES.COM is the online source for consumers who are searching for local businesses - and Maps and Driving Directions are key features for these YELLOWPAGES.COM users. In addition to driving directions and standard online map views, YELLOWPAGES.COM becomes the first and only Internet Yellow Pages to offer consumers Aerial and Bird's Eye photo map views. Through YELLOWPAGES.COM's application, users can take advantage of the following mapping options:

  • Road: This is a typical street map illustrating roads, highways, landmarks, etc. This is the default map style on YELLOWPAGES.COM. Road maps are available for 100 percent of geographies in the U.S.
  • Aerial: This is a combination of satellite photographs plus photographs taken from airplanes. Aerial maps are also available for 100 percent of geographies in the U.S.
  • Bird's Eye: This is a bonus map view available in more than 30 U.S. metro areas, with additional metros to be added in the near future. The feature offers high-resolution, low-angle photographs taken from small aircraft. The "Bird's Eye" button appears in the map selector tool when the option is available.

Through YELLOWPAGES.COM's mapping application, consumers now have the ability for smooth navigation of the new maps to zoom and pan in different directions - including click and drag capabilities.

Matt Crowley, Vice President of Marketing for YELLOWPAGES.COM, said the new mapping feature is a key piece of innovation that will enhance YELLOWPAGES.COM users' experience when looking for products and services in their local market.

"For users, the new mapping offers an advanced feature when searching online to find a local business - or mapping any location and getting directions. For advertisers, this next-generation mapping gives local consumers another way to connect with prospective businesses, and adds even greater value to their investment on YELLOWPAGES.COM," said Crowley.

YELLOWPAGES.COM's offering of vivid and unique imagery allows users to become more immersed in mapping searches. Full screen maps and easy-to-use controls will allow users to see larger maps and get a greater sense for the location and areas they are searching. This initial launch also establishes the platform for future mapping and local search enhancements for YELLOWPAGES.COM users and advertisers.

"YELLOWPAGES.COM's new mapping is a key piece of our strategy to provide the best possible online local experiences for consumers, and by doing so, continue to drive even more value to our loyal advertisers. This initial mapping rollout is doing just that, and we are proud to have launched this new application that leverages the leading mapping technologies that the Virtual Earth team has developed," Crowley added.

"Location is an incredibly important way for consumers to find information and it's vitally important for providers of local information to offer an immersive local search experience. We are very excited to see what YELLOWPAGES.COM has done with maps, directions and immersive imagery to fully embrace the Virtual Earth platform to provide a great experience for their user," said Stephen Lawler, General Manager of the Virtual Earth business unit at Microsoft.

To view YELLOWPAGES.COM's mapping functionality, go to www.yellowpages.com and select "maps and directions," or simply search YELLOWPAGES.COM for a local business and click on the "map" link.

About YELLOWPAGES.COM

YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC is a joint venture operation of AT&T and BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corporation formed in late 2004. The YELLOWPAGES.COM Network* provides exposure to 31.7 million unique visitors (comScore Media Metrix, June 2006) through the combined Network sites.

*The unique visitor number for the YELLOWPAGES.COM Network (Custom Entity) includes unduplicated visitors for the following sites: YELLOWPAGES.COM, AOL Yellow Pages, Switchboard, Yahoo! Local and Yahoo! Yellow Pages. YELLOWPAGES.COM advertisers receive exposure across Network sites.

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