MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Digital networking company Plaxo Inc. stepped onto the wireless playground, inking a deal to allow Verizon Wireless subscribers to update contact information over the air.
The software developer unveiled Plaxo Mobile Plus, a service that takes information from popular e-mail systems including Microsoft Corp.’s Outlook, Yahoo Inc. and America Online, and synchronizes the data with mobile phones. The offering, which is powered by mobile software developer Zingy, works on about 30 handsets, and Plaxo plans to launch with fellow BREW-based carriers Alltel Corp. and U.S. Cellular Corp. in the coming weeks.
Significant questions remain regarding Plaxo’s business model: The 5-year-old company has gained substantial ground with its “smart office book” service, which is free, but it’s unclear how successful Plaxo has been with its premium offerings, which include customer support features and assisted data recovery. The firm claims 15 million users, though, and is funded by well-known investors including Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures and Cisco Systems.
Wireless could be particularly fertile ground for Plaxo, which could serve as a “locker” for contact information and other content, eliminating the need to manually enter data when upgrading a phone or replacing a lost handset. Verizon Wireless is offering the service at $4.50 a month.
“Today’s consumer is demanding easier ways to stay in touch with their friends, colleagues and customers,” said Ben Golub, Plaxo’s chief executive officer. “Our smart address book is the solution that consumers are looking for to increase their productivity and personal connectedness.”
Verizon Wireless, as well as other carriers, already offers a service that allows users to back up their contacts information in case they lose their phone. And several gadget vendors offer cables that can transfer contact information for one phone to another.
