Seattle Goes Vindigo

Seattle.internet.com has learned that New York-based Vindigo, a developer of personal navigation applications for handheld devices, has decided to extend its free mobile service to the Seattle area.

The service, which provides local content about where to eat, shop and play, will also be available in Chicago, Boston, New York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

As regard the Seattle area service, the privately held company has formed a partnership with seattletimes.com that will allow it to draw information from the online version of the Seattle Times.

Seattle Times Director of Online Products Patricia Lee Smith told seattle.internet.com that the Seattle Times will be providing Vindigo with a large database of restaurants. The information will include capsule reviews, ratings and types of food.

According to Lee Smith, the relationship with Vindigo is a market trial, and is just one of many channels the Seattle Times is exploring to deliver digital info via wireless devices that will takes advantage of its reporters’ expertise in arts and entertainment.

Vindigo,which was recently named the “Best Wireless Handheld Application” in the Kelsey Group’s annual Local Internet Service Awards (LISA), is offering a download of its free application to a Palm OS-based device from it website at: www.vindigo.com