TheFind.com to Launch Apple iPhone Mobile Shopping Application

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TheFind introduces TheFind: Where to Shop, an application designed to give consumers the ability to leverage TheFind's shopping search capabilities and comprehensive local store data from anywhere, via the Apple iPhone. TheFind: Where to Shop bridges the gap between online research and offline purchases, enabling shoppers to compare products and pricing – while out and about - and ensuring that they find exactly what they're searching for, quickly and easily within their neighborhood. With a comprehensive index of more than 250 million products covering 200,000 store locations, TheFind's iPhone application aims to be the best resource for savvy shoppers.

TheFind's search capabilities will enable shoppers using their iPhones to:
- "Carry" online shopping research – product searches, prices, store locations and sales information – with them anywhere they go. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, consumers can make their shopping trips more intelligent, efficient and fun.
- Quickly and easily determine which retail outlets selling the desired items are closest in proximity. For every search, TheFind: Where to Shop graphically maps the locations of local brick and mortar stores that carry the desired item. Consumers can use the map to determine which location is the closest to them, saving time, money and gas. The application provides street addresses and phone numbers for each store location. To further refine search results, consumers can search by store type (i.e. department stores, boutiques, etc.).
- Check in-store availability. Through integration with inventory look up capabilities offered by NearbyNow and Krillion, TheFind's iPhone application enables shoppers to actually check the inventories of nearby stores to see if a particular item is in stock. Additionally, all listings for local retailers have phone numbers listed so the busy shopper can call to check in-stock status before venturing out.
- Compare online and local pricing and obtain the very best deal. TheFind: Where to Shop puts a wealth of information at ones fingertips enabling a shopper at a store to assess prices from other local and online retailers. TheFind's application alerts shoppers to various considerations such as items on sale and driving distance of retail outlets, so they can make purchasing decisions based on their individual preferences and criteria. Integration of online prices and local store information helps consumers select the best of the available options.

Local search is one of the fastest growing areas of search engine technology, and integration with "brick and mortar" stores, and location-specific data to facilitate in-store purchases is viewed as the "last mile" in search. A recent study found that 72% of consumers agree that online search engines are valuable in terms of researching offline purchases, and with an increasing number of consumers researching products online, then either purchasing those products online or from local retailers.

With TheFind: Where to Shop, the possibilities are virtually limitless when it comes to increasing consumer foot traffic at brick-and-mortar store locations, and identifying and tracking shopping trends.

TheFind: Where to Shop is a "location aware" application that enables users to search for products they want to buy and then simply view relevant stores on interactive maps pinpointing local retail locations (identified by "store icons") near their current physical locations (identified by a "location icon"). The location information is determined using GPS or other positioning methods of the iPhone platform. For more information, including a comparison on online prices and prices of stores in their area, the retailer's address, phone number, product availability, and users simply need to click the various search options of the application. Users can also check inventory availability and reserve an item for in-store pickup.

TheFind: Where to Shop has signed up 100 beta testers, who will begin testing the application this month. The application will go through Apple's approval process in August and will be available to consumers for download from the iTunes App Store immediately upon official approval. TheFind plans to release TheFind: Where to Shop for other popular mobile platforms with standard browsers, 3G and location services.

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