Seattle Startup Releases Real Estate Text Link for Mobile Phones

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RISMEDIA, June 18, 2008-Seattle-based startup Knovolo announces its Real Estate Text Link product for real estate agents and independent home sellers. This service combines text messaging with specialized Mobile Web content to provide a powerful new avenue to communicate with buyers.

“Our new text messaging service gives real estate agents a new way to communicate with potential buyers” says Greg Bouwens, founder and CEO of Knovolo. “One of the great things about our service is that it gives buyers immediate access to information about a property for sale, any time of day, and the buyer doesn’t even have to get out of their car.”

The announcement last week of Apple’s release of the newly upgraded iPhone makes Knovolo’s product release all the more timely. “Many real estate agents have heard about the iPhone, and other smartphones such as the Blackberry or Treo. Our text messaging and Mobile Web service is the perfect way to reach, and engage, those consumers” continues Bouwens. “By simply sending a text message, consumers can get information about a specific property and if they wish to, view a Mobile Web version of the property listing.”

The service is free to the house shopper (aside from possible carrier text messaging fees). Knovolo charges the real estate agent a one-time fee, good for the life of the listing, which includes all the setup work (text message creation, keyword registration, Mobile Web design and publishing) and a sign rider to be displayed at the property along with the traditional For Sale sign. The sign rider includes the call to action “For more information, text DEMO1 to 732589 (REALTY).”

According to the company, this new marketing tool isn’t restricted just to the For Sale sign. Real estate agents can use the call to action in mailings, newspaper ads, brochures, banners, on the radio, or on TV.

“We’re really excited about this new service, and the way it helps real estate agents sell in today’s difficult market,” concludes Bouwens. “We already have a good number of customers in the Puget Sound area, and we’re expanding quickly into new markets.”

To try it yourself, text DEMO1 to 732589 (REALTY)

For more information, visit www.knovolo.com.

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