Lucent Technologies and InfoSpace.com Form Strategic Partnership for Customized Web Content

Strategic Insights -

Lucent Technologies, a leading communications company, has formed a strategic marketing agreement with InfoSpace.com, a leading provider of Internet content services, to develop, market, and promote Inferno's Internet appliance solutions. The partnership aims to bring customized web content to consumers and businesses through Lucent's Inferno-embedded information appliances. These appliances will feature InfoSpace's directories and services, including yellow pages, white pages, maps, real-time stock quotes, neighborhood city guides, and classified advertising.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lucent Technologies and InfoSpace.com have signed a strategic marketing agreement to cooperate in the development, marketing, and promotion of Inferno's Internet appliance solutions.
  • The partnership will bring customized web content to consumers and businesses through Lucent's Inferno-embedded information appliances.
  • InfoSpace's proprietary technology allows for its content services to be customized to fit the needs of virtually any vertical market, including banking, healthcare, and hospitality.
  • The partnership also includes the development of a turnkey Information Appliance Suite, which will enable manufacturers to create Inferno-embedded appliances with access to InfoSpace's content services.
  • The IS2630 screen phone with Internet access, an Inferno-embedded information appliance, already incorporates InfoSpace Content Services and features an Inferno-enabled web browser with a small footprint (240K, uncompressed).
  • The new browser makes it easier and faster for IS2630 users to surf InfoSpace content, such as phone numbers, stock quotes, news, and leisurely PC browsing.
  • The partnership builds on InfoSpace's vision of providing access to real-time information services coupled with localized content.

Statistics:

  • Lucent Technologies has signed a strategic marketing agreement with InfoSpace.com.
  • The partnership aims to bring customized web content to consumers and businesses through Lucent's Inferno-embedded information appliances.
  • InfoSpace's content services include:

+ Yellow pages: 10 million hits per month

+ White pages: 5 million hits per month

+ Maps: 1 million hits per month

+ Real-time stock quotes: 1 million hits per month

+ Neighborhood city guides: 500,000 hits per month

+ Classified advertising: 200,000 hits per month

  • InfoSpace has development agreements with 20 providers of Internet access devices, including Acer America, Gateway 2000, and Pixel.
  • InfoSpace affiliates include AOL, Netscape, Microsoft, Lycos, and Playboy.
  • InfoSpace has partnerships with major television and media companies, including ABC LocalNet and CBS.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, "Lucent Technologies and InfoSpace.com Form Strategic Partnership for Customized Web Content" (Nov. 17, 1998)
  • Lucent Technologies, "Inferno: Embedded Internet Appliances"
  • InfoSpace.com, "About InfoSpace.com"
  • InfoSpace.com, "InfoSpace Affiliate List"
  • InfoSpace.com, "Development Agreements"