Investigative Journalist Launches Site Comparing Skip Tracing, Reverse Lookup Data Companies

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 12, 2006

Professional researcher and occasional scam-victim Michael Fitzpatrick has done the web-searching community an enormous favor by launching a blog devoted to reporting his experiences with on-line research and skip tracing companies. After weeks of whispering, the reverse lookup compare and contrast blog hosted by Blog-City.com was launched on Friday.

Fitzpatrick, who has made a career out of locating people and information for his journalistic endeavors, was inspired to launch the project after noticing a surge in advertising by so-called skip tracing companies since February.

“The thing is, these are services, not products. And although the phone number and address searches are fairly popular, it is still a niche market, albeit a flooded one. People who need information are generally new at this and have no idea what is available, who can obtain it, and which are scams run by charlatans pretending to offer something of investigative value,” he states.

People searching for phone number reverse lookup information, for example, are likely to choose the lowest priced service, everything else appearing equal. ”

By Fitzpatrick’s estimation, six out of ten sites flooding the cost-per-click ad market are slickly worded cons promising customers access to non-existent data. While private investigation is a regulated field, online data brokers have no governing body, no association and no oversight.

“The actions of these companies really give licensed investigators a bad name. You have actual PIs suddenly unable to drum up business because the scam artists are everywhere. Not only do they advertise like mad, but after they’ve finished fleecing some unsuspecting consumer, that person is not likely to trust a real investigator to obtain the results.”

In the coming days and weeks, Fitzpatrick will be adding reviews of actual experiences with online vendors of location services such as reverse lookup, business search, phone number, and directory tracing vendors. He plans to have a comparison of the most popular database and manual search companies compiled by July 1st and posted on the blog ReverseLookupServices.

In the meantime, consumers needing investigative help, he advises, need to find a lookup or skip tracing company that is going to charge you for the actual search. The conmen to steer clear of are those offering database inquiries and do-it-yourself software downloads.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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eBuddy Announces Global Launch of eBuddy XMS

eBuddy XMS logo

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (PRWEB) May 24, 2011

eBuddy, a global messaging leader, today announced the worldwide launch of eBuddy XMS, a free real-time messaging app that enables iPhone, iPod Touch and Android users to go beyond basic text messages. eBuddy brings a reliable, fast and scalable service and believes it can add value to the fast growing SMS and text-messaging sector by delivering a secure, high quality user experience developed with the excellence and know-how of a company that processes more than 17 billion messages per month.

eBuddy XMS is next-generation SMS that allows iPhone, iPod Touch and Android users to send free, unlimited text messages and photos in a real-time messaging stream via Internet data connections, and eliminates the charges incurred with sending individual SMS messages. Users can add friends on the spot by scanning both their phonebook and Facebook profiles, or simply invite them via SMS, email, Twitter or Facebook. eBuddy XMS also offers personalization options including picture sending and receiving along with over 100 different emoticons. Users can also see when their buddies were last seen online. Connecting and exchanging messages has never been easier!

The global launch of eBuddy XMS is also strategically aligned with the rapid worldwide smartphone adoption and the increased popularity of mobile messaging and international smartphone adoption forecast over the next few years by leading market analysts. According to a recent MobiLens report by comScore, smartphone penetration is projected to grow worldwide from 269M in 2010 to 800M by 2014.

“We’re excited to announce the global launch of eBuddy XMS,” said Jan-Joost “JJ” Rueb, CEO and co-founder of eBuddy. “We’ve created a secure, free SMS replacement for our users, and the text messaging category offers huge potential to scale our messaging services. eBuddy already has an enormous global user base, and offering the eBuddy XMS free and unlimited messaging service ensures our users will can stay in contact with friends, family or co-workers – no matter where in the world they might be at any given time of the day.”

The global launch of eBuddy XMS builds on the trusted position eBuddy already has as the messaging service of choice for over 31 million unique monthly users around the world who send and receive over 17 billion messages on a monthly basis.

Download eBuddy XMS from the App Store or Android Market or visit http://www.ebuddyxms.com/download

About eBuddy XMS

Go beyond words with eBuddy XMS, a secure, free, real-time messaging app that enables smartphone users to do more than SMS. eBuddy XMS allows for secure, unlimited messaging via Internet data connection. Users can add friends on the spot by scanning both their phonebook and Facebook profiles, or simply invite them via SMS, email, Twitter or Facebook. Message any way you want with text, photos, emoticons and more! eBuddy XMS is currently available for iOS and Android users; Blackberry coming soon.

About eBuddy

eBuddy is web and mobile messaging for everyone, everywhere! eBuddy processes over 17 billion messages per month and enables more than 31 million unique monthly visitors to chat in one interface across all major IM networks including AIM, Facebook Chat, Google Talk, Hyves, ICQ, MySpace, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger. eBuddy is one of the world’s fastest growing mobile IM applications, and offers four, free mobile IM versions: eBuddy for iPhone and iPod Touch, eBuddy for Android, eBuddy Mobile Messenger (J2ME) and eBuddy Lite Messenger (mobile Web). The premium native application, eBuddy Pro for iPhone and iPod Touch with additional exclusive features, is for sale via iTunes. The company recently launched eBuddy XMS, next generation, real-time messaging for smartphones.

Founded in 2003 and based in Amsterdam, London, Singapore and San Francisco, eBuddy is a privately held company backed by Prime Ventures and Lowland Capital Partners. Learn more: http://www.ebuddy.com.

Media Contacts:

Mindy M. Hull                            

Mercury Global Partners for eBuddy                 

Tel. +1 415 889 9977 (US)                     

Tel. +31 62 504 7680 (EU)                     

mindy(at)mercuryglobalpartners(dot)com

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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Digital Billboards Go Graphical – Low-Cost Alternative to Classified Advertising – Scaled Marketing Helps Contractors Grow with New Online Tool

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 18, 2005

“In the greater Chicago market, ads appear on one website that delivers more than 1.2 Million hits daily for the price of an entrepreneur’s morning cup of coffee.”—Thomas Brett, Director of Scaled Marketing

Scaled Marketing today launched its nationwide online advertising service. For the first time, these affordable online ads allow entrepreneurs and service-based companies to reach new customers and grow their businesses.

The driving force behind Scaled Marketing is to provide an effective alternative to traditional word-of-mouth or phonebook advertising. Independent contractors and service businesses will have access to a better way to grow their business by using high quality, graphical online advertising. One of Scaled Marketing’s clients, RJ Systems, LLC, earned more than $ 40,000.00 in revenue during the first 9 months of its advertisement. The cost for the ad was less than $ 1.50 a day.

“Many contractors and small businesses either lack the budget or know-how to even consider online advertising as a viable means to promote their businesses,” said Thomas Brett, Director of Scaled Marketing. “Our online ads incorporate professional photography and even animation. The ads make independent contractors look more professional and credible, while delivering a compelling marketing message.” Brett added that Scaled Marketing’s services include designing the ads as well as developing the ad copy, if the customer desires.

At the center of Scaled Marketing’s services are graphic-rich ads that clients can place inexpensively, or in some cases free, on websites that traditionally rely on text-based classified advertising. In the greater Chicago market, ads appear on one website that delivers more than 2 Billion hits every month. In addition, the cost is less than an entrepreneur’s morning cup of coffee.

Contractors can simultaneously attract new customers, develop a competitive advantage, and reduce dependency on phonebook and text-based advertising.

In addition to developing ads for customers, Scaled Marketing also provides real-time measurement tools. Their customers measure return on investment by tracking how many customers viewed their ad, and where those customers came from.

Scaled Marketing increases the reach of companies who want to reach online customers in a measurable way, while lowering the overall marketing budget. Scaled Marketing’s compelling digital billboards offer a quality alternative to traditional marketing at a fraction of the cost.

To learn more about the latest in marketing visit: http://www.ScaledMarketing.com

Media contact:

Thomas M. Brett, Director of Marketing

312-408-0000

tom@scaledmarketing.com

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Deseret Book Releases First App: New e-reader will offer largest selection of LDS digital books

Deseret Bookshelf is now available on the iPad, iPhone and iPod, and will be available on Android later this summer.

(PRWEB) June 11, 2011

Deseret Book Company announced today that it has released its first app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod.

Known as Deseret Bookshelf, this e-reader app offers the world’s best selection of LDS e-books including Deseret Book-published titles and e-books from other sources. Customers can build their personal e-book library, read and mark their books, and link directly to scriptures cited by authors.

“Bookshelf is the only e-reader on the market that offers instant full-text search of your entire library,” said Matt McBride, Digital Product Director for Deseret Book. “It makes finding favorite quotes and passages much easier.” The app comes preloaded with eight free books, and the option to choose two additional books without charge.

Deseret Bookshelf is initially offered on the iOS platform (iPad, iPhone, and iPod) with future plans for expansion to the Android platform later this summer. To date, Deseret Book offers more than 1,500 e-titles, with more added every day, McBride said. Visit DeseretBookshelf.com for more information.

Deseret Book also has other digital offerings, and is currently preparing the release of several other apps, including:

    a free app for youth based on the popular book “Why?: Powerful Answers and Practical Reasons for Living LDS Standards”

    A series of Book of Mormon games for young children

    An app based on the popular board game “Feast and Famine”

“This is a remarkable era for publishers when content can be made readily available in whatever format suits your personal tastes,” said Sheri Dew, president and CEO of Deseret Book. “We now have the capacity to publish books that can literally be accessed anywhere in the world in a matter of moments.”

Since 1866, Deseret Book Company has been the market leader in the publishing, distribution and retailing of faith-based books, music, DVDs, religious art and home décor, and other lifestyle products serving, in particular, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book’s purpose is to provide quality products that build faith, strengthen homes and families, ennoble personal virtues, and offer practical advice to religious and non-religious alike.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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Higher Impact Inc. Offers New Wireless Phone Service

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 24, 2011

New wireless phone service from Higher Impact Inc. is the best cell phone service available out there. No longer does a customer need to purchase both a cell phone and service from the same provider. Customers can get either one at great rates starting as low as $ 49.00.

Unlimited talk, text and data plans available. If you’re a consumer who wants to purchase a new phone and start fresh with a company that doesn’t require contracts, credit checks, additional taxes, or early termination fees, then this service is the right one. http://www.communityadvertisingnetwork.com/16571dou

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.