Michael Arrington interviews Jingle Networks CEO George Garrick and investor Josh Kopelman about today’s big financing news as well as the history and future of their free, ad supported 411 service called 1-800-Free-411. Key facts from the discussion: Jingle currently has costs of around $0.25 per call, and revenue of $0.20, although Garrick feels that potential revenue per call will approach $0.50 as the market matures. Garrick and Kopelman also discuss upcoming potential competition from Google and other search players, and how Jingle will compete in that market. The service, which is growing rapidly, now claims 3% of the total U.S. 411 calls, a roughly $8 billion market.
Time: 31:39 Minutes
Size: 7.24 MB
This is a great service and I hope they survive, it is about time that consumers don’t foot the bills and a FREE411 service is offered all the time. You have my undying support George!
I like 4INFO, no ads just info. I thought that this might be great, but after trying to get two local listings in NYC and having two failed attempts im not so sure. With the full name of a pizza shop and a diner I was unable to get the numbers I needed and they didn’t offer an option to go back to the operator. Keep it in mind for the future, but for now I am a 4INFO Guy.
btw 4info is sms based..
People may have anecdotes about one or two Free411 attempts that don’t go so smoothly, but that’s pretty irrelevent, imo. Both the business model and the underlying premise are sound, and it’s only a matter of time before advertisers understand the potential and get involved to a larger degree. In time, Free411’s database will expand, also. While Google and a couple others are messing about with text- and PDA-based directory assistance (which are inevitably smaller markets), Free411 will actually be in full swing, making money and becoming a household name — which is like landing on the moon while your competition is still building rockets in the backyard.
1-800-FREE411 is one of the best pieces of lesser-known information I’ve had the good fortune to come across in recent memory. I have been using it for nearly a month now after a collegue of mine forwarded it along to me in an email. Naturally, I was suspect but, to my surprise it delivered as promised. I’ve since passed it on to virtually everyone I know. Might as well spread the wealth. I’ve never had any issues with it. Works just like you’d expect it to. I’m always behind a company that offers a good service to the public free of charge. Who wouldn’t be?
George said they haven’t done “any” advertising, but I saw a Billboard for 1-800-Free411 off 94 in Chicago about 3-4 Months ago. Maybe people are buying ads without George’s knowledge : )