IRVING, Texas –Nokia (NYSE:NOK) and The Weather Channel are now enabling wireless phone users to receive airport weather forecasts and average airport departure delays on their mobile phones. By logging on to weather.com, the world’s leading source of weather on the Web and the Web site of The Weather Channel, consumers with a text-messaging enabled handset can register to receive these travel updates at no cost beyond that of their wireless service. Travelers can view resources for the business traveler by visiting the “Weather Tools for the Business Traveler” section of weather.com at
www.weather.com/nokia.
“The Weather Channel and weather.com are dedicated to providing trusted and reliable weather forecasts anytime, anywhere,” said Tom Flournoy, vice-president of product management for weather.com. “By working with Nokia on this innovative program, we are now able to target our weather alerts in a way that is most relevant to travelers. As they prepare for their trip, they will know in advance if weather delays will be a factor.”
Designed for the frequent business or leisure traveler, these wireless alerts contain customized weather information for airports in over 100 cities across the United States and are sent to subscribers each day, beginning three days prior to departure. Any person with a wireless phone capable of receiving text messages may sign up for the service, regardless of carrier, provided that the text-messaging service is offered by and activated with the wireless operator.
“With over 200 billion messages sent in 2001 alone, people around the world have discovered that text messaging is fun and easy,” said Debra Kennedy, director of consumer and brand marketing for Nokia. “Starting with text messaging, and now moving into new services like the mobile Internet and multimedia messaging, the wireless phone is being recognized as much more than just a tool for voice communications. These wireless weather alerts are a good example of how wireless phones can provide an invaluable service without ever placing a call.”
Additionally, Nokia will sponsor airport delay information on The Weather Channel cable network and the Daily Traveler feature on weather.com—which provides average departure delay information to site visitors.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
About The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel, Inc., based in Atlanta, is the nation's premier provider of weather information. The Weather Channel is seen in more than 84 million homes nationwide. The Weather Channel is owned by Landmark Communications, Inc., a Norfolk, Va.-based privately held media company with global interests.
About weather.com
For more information about weather.com, the Web site of The Weather Channel, visit www.weather.com/aboutus/marketing/press/internet.
Media and Industry Analysts only please contact:
Nokia
Keith Nowak
Nokia Americas
+1 972-894-4573
communication.corp@nokia.com
The Weather Channel
Stacy Kirk
weather.com
+1 770-226-2611
skirk@weather.com