Internet technology company Conk! launched a network of local online communities designed specifically for mobile-phone users, the company announced Wednesday.
The Conk! Network launched in 22 major U.S. markets, featuring 60 categories of updated news, local weather, classified ad listings and community discussion boards. The service is free to mobile users; classified ads can be posted for $1 per month.
Companies looking to be included in local business listings will bid for placement based on category and keywords. Conk! will charge listed companies based on the number of times users click on a listing, automatically dialing the business.
“This is the first Web service in the U.S. with an interface designed specifically for cell-phone usage,” said James Touchi-Peters, Conk!’s chief executive officer. “To date, the mobile Web has been viewed as a failure in the wireless industry. Our contention is that the public has not been interested because no one has built anything compelling enough for people to want to use.”
The company said it hopes to deploy the network in 100 of the largest U.S. markets by year’s end.
