Zagat Survey today launches ZAGAT.mobi, an advertising-supported mobile website that features the company’s signature restaurant, nightlife and hotel content for all major U.S. cities, London and other select international destinations.
    “We pioneered the concept of ‘consumer generated content’ almost 30
years ago,” notes Nina Zagat. “As the media landscape has evolved, we’ve
taken a ‘platform agnostic’ approach to helping consumers make smart
decisions by making our content available to them however and wherever
they’ve needed it.”
  What began as the famous, slim “burgundy bibles” has taken many forms
over the years including the ZAGAT.com website and many leading-edge,
digital media such as the ZAGAT TO GO smartphone software, GPS navigation
systems, touch screens in New York City taxicabs and now the ZAGAT.mobi
mobile website.
  ZAGAT.mobi is compatible with any web-enabled mobile phone and is
designed to serve the growing number of mobile phone users who seek
information via their mobile devices. All visitors to ZAGAT.mobi can access
free restaurant, nightlife and hotel information including important
listing details (e.g. address, phone number, hours), handy features (e.g.
send to a friend via SMS, find nearby) and useful links (e.g., directions,
movie times, airlines).
  ZAGAT.com subscribers get the bonus of viewing the Zagat ratings and
reviews of these businesses on ZAGAT.mobi at no additional charge. Further
enhancements are planned for later this year.
  Boom in Digital Advertising with Mobile Websites Poised for Growth
  Recent industry forecasts say that in the next five years, the fastest
growing segments of media will include the “third screen” (mobile
websites/content) and ad budgets are shifting accordingly.
  Advertisers like ZAGAT.mobi launch sponsor, Visa Signature (an
exclusive two-month flight), are increasingly adding mobile web into their
marketing strategies as a new way to reach active, affluent and engaged
consumers. “We are especially excited about devices like the iPhone, for
which ZAGAT.mobi is optimized,” said Ms. Zagat. “We are delivering mobile
advertisers highly motivated and active consumers who use their phones
constantly to accomplish tasks for both work and play. That’s a great
environment for any marketer.”
  Zagat Survey worked with Starcut, a leader in high-end mobile services,
to design and develop the ZAGAT.mobi site and has licensed the Starcut
Media One platform to deliver an optimal user experience to any mobile
device. Zagat has also partnered with Third Screen Media, now a subsidiary
of AOL, as well as Winstar Interactive Media, a division of Interep
Interactive, to manage and sell advertising on the new mobile site.
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