SBC Communications Inc., Wednesday
continued to capitalize on its alliance with Prodigy Communications Corp. by becoming
its exclusive telephone directory service provider.
The SMARTpages.com Web directory,
co-branded with Prodigy, allows customers to search
nationwide yellow and white pages listings online.
Lesia Figueira, Prodigy spokesperson, said the alliance streamlines the
services formerly performed by the joint efforts of Big Yellow and Snap! yellow
pages, and WhoWhere? people
finder.
Figueira said the hybrid directory provides customers with a one-stop
search experience.
Charles Roesslein, Prodigy president and chief executive officer, said the
search service is the natural evolution of its alliance with SBC.
“SMARTpages.com is an example of the effective synergy of the Prodigy, SBC
alliance,” Roesslein said. “SMARTpages.com is an online directory of
business listings and city guides designed to help consumers shop, research
products and services, and locate merchants. By adding the service to
Prodigy’s home page, we are effectively making Prodigy a one-stop
destination for members.”
This is the third joint-marketing effort by Prodigy and SBC this
month. Early in July SBC announced it would give customers a free personal
computer when they subscribe to its Prodigy DSL-enabled services for
two-years. In mid-July Prodigy and SBC announced they would distribute
co-branded dial-up starter kits at Southwest Bell Wireless
and Pacific Bell Wireless retail
stores.
The alliance was announced in November 1999, after SBC took 43 percent
ownership stake in Prodigy. As a result of the original deal, the national
Internet service provider gained access to SBC’s Project Pronto DSL
initiative designed to reach 77 million potential broadband customers in
three years.