IOL goText Provides Dealers with Powerful Mobile Marketing Solution

April 8th, 2008

West Chester, PA - April 8, 2008 -HomeNet, Inc. has announced the release of IOL goText, a mobile marketing solution that extends HomeNet's Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite to web-enabled mobile phones. The new feature, which is powered by Gumiyo's mobile web technology, can literally place an automotive dealer's entire online inventory directly into the hands of prospective buyers.

"In today’s world, consumers don’t just want on-demand information – they expect it," commented HomeNet CEO Jesse Biter. "IOL goText makes it easy for dealers to empower prospective buyers by equipping them with real-time access to robust inventory information anytime, anywhere. IOL goText is a terrific addition to the IOL suite and we expect that this powerful marketing tool will give dealers a competitive edge in their respective markets."

HomeNet’s popular Inventory Online (IOL) Marketing Suite currently serves more than 12,000 automotive dealership locations throughout the United States and Canada, processing over 2.5 million vehicles each day. The IOL goText feature is fully integrated into the webIOL system, where it automatically formats, optimizes, and syncs a dealer’s on-lot inventory for the mobile web. Once optimized, IOL goText instantly distributes vehicle inventory with one click, providing easy-to-use tools to connect buyers with the dealership using simple SMS text messages.

Similar to text message voting popularized by American Idol, consumers can access the dealer’s inventory via their mobile phone by keying a short Go Code(TM) (a simple keyword unique for each dealership) into the body of a text message and then sending it to 48696. The codes are marketed through the dealer’s TV, print, radio and billboard campaigns, making traditional automotive advertising "clickable", trackable and measurable.

The reply message that comes back to the user includes information on the dealership and a mobile Web link to a media rich version of the dealer’s showroom. Every vehicle listing viewed by the user on the mobile Web has a way for the buyer to send a text message to the dealership, initiate an email or live phone call, or notify the dealer that they would like to be contacted by phone or email.

Go Codes can also be extended with the last eight digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN) or the dealer’s stock numbers to take a mobile consumer directly to a specific vehicle.

To learn more about IOL goText, dealers should contact the HomeNet Sales team at 877-738-3313.

HomeNet, Inc. is a privately owned automotive technology provider. Founded in 1996, HomeNet's core focus is providing innovative technology solutions to help automotive dealers increase online sales. HomeNet offers its products to a variety of customers including dealers, OEMs, website providers, CRM providers, digital lot management firms, finance/leasing agents, auction agents, and more. The company is based on Christian principles and is headquartered in West Chester, PA, with satellite offices in AZ, FL, GA, IA, IL, TX, and UT. For more information, please visit www.homenetinc.com.

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