[October 26, 2004] WeatherBug(R) & m-Qube Announce the Availability of Severe Weather Alerts & Weather Forecasts Across U.S. Wireless Carriers GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- WeatherBug announces the availability of severe weather alerts and weather forecasts directly to text message capable mobile phones. The new service, available the first week in November, will be available across U.S. wireless carriers through a partnership with m-Qube. WeatherBug, the largest distributor of National Weather Service weather alerts, maintains the largest exclusive weather network of WeatherBug Tracking Stations generating live neighborhood weather reports every second, not every hour. The timely and precise data distributed from WeatherBug allows users to accurately plan their day. For more information, or to sign up for the new wireless offering, visit http://www.weatherbug.com/wireless. Existing WeatherBug users will also be able to sign up for this service from within the application by clicking on the "Mobile Alerts" link. WeatherBug provides live neighborhood weather information and life-saving alerting technology to broadcasters, federal and state government agencies, the National Weather Service, schools, consumers and businesses. The consumer version of WeatherBug is used by more than 21 million at-work/at-home users, according to comScore Media Metrix (September, 2004). It is also distributed in partnership with the company's 100+ ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and Telemundo broadcast affiliates. "Our goal is to provide our users with consistent access to live, local weather data and alerts across an array of information touch points that span from television to the desktop to mobile phones. Mobile alerts are a natural extension for us, and we are confident that this service will provide a significant value to our consumer and business users who are constantly on the go," said Bob Marshall, president and CEO of AWS Convergence Technologies, WeatherBug's parent company. "We are tremendously pleased to be working with such a media savvy and technology-forward company as WeatherBug," said Andy Miller, senior vice president of Business Development, m-Qube. "Their unique approach to "all things weather" has made them a massive success in all of their delivery channels and we are sure mobile will be no exception." WeatherBug Mobile Alerts will be available in two different service offerings. A basic version ($2.99/month) enables users to set pre-defined preferences for the type of weather alerts they wish to receive on their wireless devices. It also offers an optional weekend forecast alert distributed on Thursday evenings. WeatherBug Plus(TM) Mobile Alerts ($4.99/month) includes all the features of the basic service in addition to more capabilities and a subscription to WeatherBug Plus 6.0 on the desktop. WeatherBug Plus is the ad-free version of WeatherBug that comes with several extra weather features and customizable backgrounds. Users are billed directly by their carrier. About m-Qube m-Qube is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with offices in Redmond, Washington and Toronto, Ontario. m-Qube enables world-class companies to build a mobile channel by providing the most comprehensive platform and services available. m-Qube provides a single interface for connectivity, an extensive content catalog, application development, monitoring, billing and transport to enable brands of all types to offer their consumers a wide variety of mobile products including ringtones, games, images and messaging. The company's strategic wireless partners include Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Nextel, US Cellular, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, Dobson Communications, MTS, Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless, Telus Mobility, Microcell Solutions, SaskTel and Aliant Mobility. For more information, please visit us at http://www.m-qube.com/. About WeatherBug(R) WeatherBug (http://www.weatherbug.com/) ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and communities always get the most precise live weather conditions, the most relevant reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard their property and their lives. WeatherBug owns the world's largest exclusive weather network, which has more than 7,000 live WeatherBug Tracking Stations and over 1,000 cameras that generate neighborhood level reports every second (other weather data is up to an hour or more old). This network powers various products and services, including: WeatherBug, the number one weather Internet application, with over 50 million downloads, that streams live neighborhood conditions to its home and work users; WeatherBug Media Services, which delivers live weather information to over 80 million U.S. households through partnerships with more than 100 local television stations; WeatherBug Education, which provides engaging weather information and educational tools to schools and colleges, including an online learning program for K-12 schools called WeatherBug Achieve; and WeatherBug Professional Services, which uses the company's unique weather network and software to provide high-value solutions for vertical industries such as energy, transportation, and first response. WeatherBug is a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. (http://www.aws.com/). WeatherBug CONTACT: Press: Steve Rubel, +1-212-455-8085, [email protected], orMeredith Topalanchik, +1-212-455-8018, [email protected], both ofCooperKatz & Company for AWS; or Laurie Cutts, for m-Qube, +1-617-867-4017,[email protected] Web site: http://www.weatherbug.com/http://www.aws.com/http://www.m-qube.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]