Infobox_Company
company_name = Jingle Networks
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 2005 in Burlington, MA
location = flagicon|USA Bedford, MA, U.S.
key_people = Scott Kliger, CEO
John Roswech, President
Brian Roberts, CFO
industry = Telecommunications
products = 1-800-FREE411 directory service
homepage = [http://www.free411.com www.free411.com]
1-800-FREE411 is an American service offering free directory assistance.
Callers dial 1-800-FREE411 (1-800-373-3411) from any phone in the United States to use the toll-free service, which allows them to obtain residential, business, or government phone numbers. Sponsors cover part of the service cost by playing advertising messages during the call. Callers always hear an ad at the beginning of the call, and then another after they have made their request. Each ad is typically about ten seconds long.
Callers can also have driving directions sent to their cell phones via text message. These directions are available between any addresses or intersections in the United States, but will work only with cell phones. [http://localmobilesearch.net/node/467]
1-800-FREE-411 runs on voice automation technology provided by Nuance Communications. [ [http://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/?ArticleID=37348 SpeechTechMag.com: Nuance and Jingle Networks Enter Strategic Partnership ] ]
Jingle Networks aims at attracting customers away from an existing fee-based market. The "Wall Street Journal" described it as "inspired by the business model of Google".[cite news]
url=http://www.kelseygroup.com/news/2006/wsj_060420.htm
title=Your Listing, and a Word From Our Sponsor
publisher=The Wall Street Journal
author=Rebecca Buckman
date=2006-04-20
accessdate=2006-11-03 Article reprinted on kelseygroup.com.] Corporate overview
The parent corporation, Jingle Networks, was formed in 2005, and by the spring of 2008 had, according to TechCrunch, "captured a six percent market share of directory assistance calls." [ [http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/05/21/on-the-road-to-an-ipo-jingle-networks-prepares-to-launch-a-voice-ad-network/ On the Road to An IPO, Jingle Networks Prepares to Launch A Voice Ad Network ] ] According to Investors Business Daily, Jingle Networks receives about 20 million calls per month. [http://www.investors.com/ibdarchives/ArtShow.asp?atn=285184279999594&sy=&kw=google,_s|_microsoft_s|_look_s|_to_s|_connect&ps=76&ac=]
On October 23 2006, Jingle Networks announced that it raised $30 million in third round financing from Goldman Sachs and Hearst Corporation. Also on that date, Jingle Network's CEO volunteered on TechCrunch that his company was losing on average 5 cents for every call they processed. [ [http://www.talkcrunch.com/2006/10/23/interview-with-jingle-ceo-and-venture-capitalist/ TalkCrunch » Blog Archive » Interview With Jingle CEO and Venture Capitalist ] ] On June 25, 2008, TechCrunch repeated Jingle's press releases that they had reached per-call profitability. [ [http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/25/jingle-networks-proves-their-free-business-model-works/ Jingle Networks Proves Their Free Business Model Works ] ]
See also
* 800-The-Info
* GOOG-411
* List of speech recognition software
* Speech recognition
* Tellme Networks
* 4-1-1
References
Further reading
* [http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/free411.asp "Free 411"] at "Snopes.com: Urban Legends Reference Pages."
* Rebecca Buckman, [http://webreprints.djreprints.com/1718300644730.html "Your Listing, and a Word From Our Sponsor"] at "Wall Street Journal," 20 Apr 2006.
* Micharl Arrington, [http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/15/1-800-free-411-has-6-market-share-of-us-411-market/ "1-800-Free-411 has 6% market share of U.S. 411 market"] at "TechCrunch.com," 15 March 2007.
* Paul Davidson, [http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-06-14-free-411-usat_N.htm "Free 411 service goes after rivals for license fees"] at "USA Today," 14 June 2007.
* Michael Arrington, [http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/10/23/jingle-networks-has-now-raised-over-60-million/ "Jingle Networks has now raised over $60 million"] at "TechCrunch.com," 23 October 2007.
