Truvo, a local search and advertising publisher operating across six countries, has launched a downloadable Java search service for mobile users in Belgium based on mobilePeople's popular liquid platform. Truvo, formerly called World Directories, is said to be the first international directory publisher to add multiple content sources in a searchable format next to their own yellow and white pages listings.
Truvo's searchable content includes yellow pages (Pages d'Or), white pages (Pages Blanches), full news content from hln.be, weather from Meteo, a mobile web search as well as ringtones and wallpapers. The integration of different content sources will increase traffic in Truvo's mobile portal and ensure the stickiness of the service with users.
The Truvo Mobile platform will undertake a search across all data sources and return results by each content source. Then, using a drop down menu, the user can also select to search per source. Users can save results to their phonebooks, call a business directly and contact a company by sending an email directly from the results. The solution is available in both French and Dutch and utilises a single search box approach.
The liquid MAP solution provides the option to display the results of businesses or people on a fully realised map which also allows zooming and panning. Additionally users can click on a point of interest and they will receive additional information in a pop-up menu. The user can then highlight an entire street and view information on it just by clicking through. MobilePeople utilises Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG) considered superior to other map technologies that allow less traffic cost for the user.
Roeland De Meulemeester, Group Manager Online, Truvo Corporate, commented on the launch: "Truvo strives to provide the best and most relevant information to our users and as such we have provided them with the ability to search across a wide range of content including yellow and white pages, news, weather, ringtones, wallpapers as well as Wikipedia. This partnership mean's our customers will receive an unrivalled mobile search experience."
Jens Andersen, CEO and co-founder of mobilePeople said: "Belgium is a great emerging search market to be involved in and with Truvo we couldn't have hoped for a better or more comprehensive international directory partner."
In April 2008 Truvo launched the Java client based mobile search solution with mobilePeople in Belgium. Further country launches in Portugal and the Republic of Ireland are scheduled for the coming months.