Local search through mobiles

Times Internet, which is part of the Times group, has inked a deal with Poynt Corporation, a provider of local search services for mobiles, to make a Poynt App available to mobile users in India.
TimesPoynt, as it will be known, will provide relevant and local data to users. The application will be available on all J2ME devices (most feature phones are based on this platform), Nokia, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones.
The app will be launched during the first quarter of 2011 and will initially feature sections for local restaurants, nightlife, movies, events, weather and maps.
TIL will also provide local content that is available on its subsidiary portals and distribution channels. The company will identify and establish relationships for third-party content and services to provide a complete and comprehensive directory of local information for TimesPoynt users in India.
“The ability of their technology to provide such rich content to basic handsets; their expanding geographic footprint; and support for multiple device platforms is an excellent fit for expanding our own product portfolio,” said Rishi Khiani, chief executive officer, Times Internet Limited.