Virgin Media Launches LBS-enabled Mobile Portal

Virgin Media has launched a mobile Internet portal, available for all UK mobile users, featuring the RoundU local search service provided by location-based services (LBS) provider, Mobile Commerce.
RoundU is free to use and integrates handset location with a comprehensive range of local information. Using listings aggregated from Mobile Commerce partners, including toptable, Itchy Guides and The Press Association, the service brings a full range of UK arts and entertainment content, as well as Thomson business listings, to the handset.
Users can find and book cinema tickets, secure a restaurant table, read local gig reviews, find a hotel room and the nearest cash machine or petrol station, using a simple menu on their handset. This is combined with updated Multimap mapping, to ensure that users can easily locate their choice of venue.
 This is very exciting partnership for us, and to be working with such a large and respected high profile, company as Virgin Media – with 10 million customers – is something were relishing, says Mobile Commerce CEO, Steve Page. Our RoundU service is designed to meet the demands of peoples ever busier lives. Not only do we have over 11,000 recommended drinking and dining venues and 1.9 million business search listings, but the service is integrated with our ad server, so it can be monetised with relevant advertising and sponsorship. This deal is another endorsement of our leadership in mobile content aggregation and location based search.