Jingle Networks

Jingle Networks was a provider of mobile voice search and performance advertising solutions, best known for its free, ad-supported directory assistance service, 1-800-FREE-411. Founded in 2004, the company established itself as a key player in the mobile voice search market before smartphones became ubiquitous.

The company's primary service, 1-800-FREE-411, allowed users to get directory assistance for free by listening to short audio advertisements, a disruptive model compared to the fees charged by traditional phone carriers. The business model was centered on this ad-supported structure, where advertisers paid to have their messages played to consumers actively seeking business information, often connecting them directly to the requested business. This created a pay-for-call advertising network that served both national clients and small businesses. Jingle Networks also powered free directory assistance for mobile carriers like Sprint's Boost Mobile.

A significant milestone for Jingle Networks was its acquisition by Marchex, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHX) in April 2011 for up to $62.5 million in cash and stock. The acquisition was primarily driven by Marchex's interest in Jingle's expertise in mobile voice search and its strong partnerships with mobile carriers, rather than the declining 1-800-FREE-411 service. By integrating Jingle, Marchex aimed to accelerate its call advertising strategy, significantly increasing the scale of its call advertising network. Following the acquisition, the Jingle Networks team was integrated into Marchex. The 1-800-FREE-411 service and website were eventually discontinued.

Keywords: mobile voice search, performance advertising, pay-for-call, directory assistance, 1-800-FREE-411, call advertising network, ad-supported, Marchex, mobile carriers, voice recognition