A partnership with USA Today parent Gannett sees the newspaper publisher take a minority stake in the 4INFO mobile search and information service.
4Info scored an agreement with Gannett that will see the publisher distribute placements of 4Info service information in USA Today’s sections and across the numerous newspaper and broadcast companies Gannett owns, 4Info announced.
In October 2005, USA Today carried 4Info’s shortcode on the front of the sports and weather pages. Each section informed readers how to send a text message to 4Info for instant access to team scores, local forecasts, and other information.
4Info’s services are free to users, though the wireless provider may charge various fees and/or charges for text messaging.
This new partnership promises a much broader scope for 4Info. Gannett ranks as a leading international operator of newspapers; USA Today is America’s largest-selling daily.
Gannett publishes over a thousand non-daily publications in the US, as well as newspapers and other publications in the U.K. through its Newsquest subsidiary.
“Bringing aboard a strategic partner with the heft of Gannett, as well as its national distribution capability, is a fabulous step for us,” 4Info CEO Pankaj Shah said in a statement. “Constant touch with consumers via Gannett, and the resulting huge mobile audience, means high value for advertisers and other partners.”
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David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
