InfoSpace pulls it all together with mCore
Rating: tune in, turn on and stay on
By Bena Roberts
Infospace launches mCore an end to end platform that unifies mobile search, storefronts, portals and messaging.
What is mCore?
Infospace has traditionally been a portal and storefront provider of mobile with its presence initiating in the online space. Its quest into mobile services has been more piecemeal with one of mobile search type services such as Find It. mCore puts the wrappings on InfoSpace’s mobile positioning and strategy and gives it backbone.
The competitive environment in mobile is red – with every mobile search, branded search and competitive influence fighting for the lions’ share of the same market. InfoSpace is on a mission to review, revamp and revitalize its competitive positioning in mobile.
This is a necessity as InfoSpace is one of the only leading mobile search players with a storefront, portal and mobile search capability. Therefore, InfoSpace will be able to differentiate itself using Virgin Mobile as a complete and comprehensive footprint for its flagship mCore services.
From the press release
“mCore represents the next generation in mobile platform services,” said Steve Elfman, executive vice president of InfoSpace’s mobile business unit. “Both carriers and mobile users are tired of dealing with multiple technologies and interfaces when it comes to information and content on the mobile phone. mCore resolves those issues for the industry by delivering a solution that is intelligent for the users and easy for carriers to integrate.”
“Deploying the complete mCore suite of services will introduce significant cost savings and operational efficiencies within our mobile infrastructure,” Nick White, Head of Digital Services and NPD at Virgin Mobile. “InfoSpace’s integrated mobile platform allows us to offer a simple, unified experience for our customers, and focus our energy and resources on providing the best mobile user experience available.”
What we think
InfoSpace has been gearing up to this since 3GSM 2007. Its partnership announcements with InfoGin and Fastsearch have alluded to a change of strategy and mCore is more of an evolution than a revolution.
This being said, it does not mean that it’s relevant and vital for InfoSpace’s continued success in the mobile space. We also believe that InfoSpace might even divide its business into two categories Internet and mobile. If this happens it would be easier for a third party to purchase, take-over or invest in the company.
As usual more information in the Mobile Search Analyst and competitive intelligence on Fastsearch and Infospace is already available.
Related News:
- InfoSpace makes Virgin Mobile happy and offers mCore Managed Web 2.0
- The Mobile Search Analyst July 2007, Celltick, Purple Ace, Infospace, Fastsearch, Nuance and Mobile People
- Virgin Mobile does it better with Infospace mobile search
- Infospace Virgin Mobile extend contract
- 3GSM: Infospace and InfoGin join Mobile Browsing Forces
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