InfoSpace.com, Mitsui Comtek Form Strategic Alliance

InfoSpace.com Inc. and Mitsui Comtek Corp. formed a strategic alliance to provide InfoSpace.com’s technology and content services, including ads, on Mitsui Comtek Internet access screen telephones.

The screen phones integrated with InfoSpace.com content and services will give users access to yellow pages ads, stock quotes, maps, classified ads, weather, news and the ability to search for and compare product prices online.

Users will be able to personalize the content that is displayed on the access screen by selecting from a suite of available InfoSpace.com services. For example, individuals using this screen phone will be able to access the InfoSpace.com yellow pages directory to find the name and address of a friend or business, obtain door to door directions, locate a nearby hotel and restaurant, and typically, book a room or browse the restaurant’s menu.

Mitsui Comtek is the technology subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. Ltd., in Japan, an international trading company. Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

“This alliance with is an ideal way to deliver InfoSpace.com’s enriched and comprehensive directories and services to the growing number of users accessing the Internet on non-PC devices,” said Naveen Jain, president and chief executive officer of InfoSpace.com.

“Together with InfoSpace.com’s technology and content, Interactive Phone provides a simplified interface to the Internet for information, access to services and messaging,” said Rick Murayama, general manager of Comtek’s Emerging Technology Division.

InfoSpace.com is an aggregator and integrator of content services for syndication to a broad network of affiliates, including Internet portals, destination sites and suppliers of PCs and other Internet access devices, such as cellular phones, pagers, screen phones, television set-top boxes, online kiosks and personal digital assistants.