Yahoo Inc. yesterday made available a new device that allows consumers to use their Web-enabled, wireless phones to access local information quickly.
Called Yahoo Local Info, company officials said the information would be specific to any geographical location in the United States. It also will provide data such as addresses, distances, directions and click-to-call phone numbers for local businesses and services across the country.
“One of the great promises of accessing the Web from a wireless device has been the ability to retrieve personalized, timely and location-relevant information,” said Sridhar Ranganathan, general manager of Yahoo Everywhere. “Yahoo Everywhere is focused on understanding mobile lifestyles and becoming increasingly essential to consumers by providing access to the information they need, when and where they want it.”
Users will be able to access the service by clicking the Yahoo Local name on Web-enabled phones, then entering their current address, ZIP code, city or state location. Once they have entered that information, a number of local businesses and events will appear over the screen.
Yahoo Local users will also have access to a number of other Yahoo Inc. properties, including Yahoo Yellow Pages, Yahoo Restaurant and Yahoo Entertainment.
