Dial Directions Delivers First Free Voice-Activated 'Directions' Service For All Cell Phones

Beta Version Launches for the San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Metro Areas of New York City and Los Angeles

SAN FRANCISCO, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Dial Directions today introduced the voice-activated phone service "DIR-ECT-IONS" (347-328-4667), which enables any cell phone user to call and ask for directions to any address or store destination. The free service asks callers for their start and destination and instantly sends driving directions by text message.

This first of its kind service was built by a team of industry experts in voice user interfaces, speech recognition, and navigation; their breakthrough new work has created a user experience that's easy, quick, and accurate.

"By dialing DIR-ECT-IONS, anybody can turn their cell phone into a 'free GPS'. Now you can get directions anytime by calling and asking -- no downloads, special phone, or web plan." said Amit Desai, cofounder and chief product officer of Dial Directions. "DIR-ECT-IONS opens up location-based services to all cell phone users, the majority of whom want something easier and more available than today's complicated 'smart' phones."

The service has received enthusiastic consumer adoption in private trials in the greater metro areas of the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Los Angeles. It plans to expand its coverage nationwide soon.

To date, mobile voice-activated search has been restricted almost entirely to basic directory assistance, a $4.1 billion annual industry. Opus Research, however, reports that by 2010 the market will expand beyond 411 services and grow to $7.2 billion, as people begin to demand more functionality from their average cell phones.

"Dial Directions is today's best platform for voice-activated location-based services. Our vision is to continue enabling all cell phone users, and also offering unique mobile options to our online and industry partners," said Desai. "DIR-ECT-IONS is the first to rollout voice-activated directions and store locator services, and we'll be adding more services in the coming months."

How it Works

Any cell phone user can dial DIR-ECT-IONS, which is 347-328-4667, and say where they are and where they'd like to go -- the service understands and texts back turn-by-turn directions. Users can give a specific destination address or intersection ("DirectMe"), or just ask for the closest location of any chain store, like Starbucks or Borders ("NearMe").

About Dial Directions

Dial Directions provides the industry's best platform for voice-activated location-based services. Dial Directions' first of a kind phone service "DIR-ECT-IONS" (347-328-4667) enables any cell phone user to call and ask for directions to any address or store destination, and receive directions by text message instantly. Now available in beta version in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Los Angeles metros, the free service bridges the gap for consumers between the online and mobile worlds for location-based services. The company is privately-funded and made up of a team of industry experts in voice interfaces, speech recognition, and navigation. For more information, visit http://www.dialdirections.com/.

Source: Dial Directions

CONTACT: Michelle Sabolich of Atomic Public Relations, +1-415-402-0230,
michelle.sabolich@atomicpr.com, for Dial Directions

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