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Bookshops to Benefit From New Mobile Phone Book and Store Finding Service

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 October 2007, 06:00 CDT

LONDON, October 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- Increased Footfall in Stores and Increased Online Purchases - Wider Spread of Products Available to Consumers - First New iPhone Application to Hit the UK

A new mobile phone service was launched today offering the first location specific book and bookstore locator service in the UK. The service, BookRabbit (tm), gives consumers with an Internet enabled mobile phone, details of where their nearest bookshop is, upon entry of just a postcode or location. The service is free to retailers and booksellers and will help drive online and offline custom to stores, leading to increased sales and brand awareness.

BookRabbit (tm) is designed to be accessible and play on the idea of a rabbit hole of data where customers can burrow for more. If you want a bookshop then the rabbit will get it for you, if you want a book then it'll get that too.

The service is currently optimised for Apple's iPhone and iTouch units, which are the first of a new generation of mobile phones with larger screen sizes and Internet access. BookRabbit (tm) also utilises Google's Mapping service to give satellite and detailed geographical data.

Kieron Smith, Managing Director of Retail8, the consumer division of Argent Vive PLC, which owns the BookRabbit (tm) service said:

"We see this as a start of something new and exciting, first we've made it possible for consumers to find their nearest bookshop wherever they may be. This will help bookstores gain increased footfall and enable booksellers to showcase their inventory to consumers seven days a week. Soon stores will be able to upload their inventory and customers can find out how close they are to the book they want. We're also adding bookshop reviews and event details to BookRabbit (tm), so soon we're sure it will be a key reference site in every booklover's pocket as well as an invaluable tool in the bookseller's sales armoury. The service is free and lists all booksellers who want to be listed. All they have to do is register their details on the web site. We're looking at more innovations that will help independent booksellers over the next few months, in conjunction with Midas Merchant also part of Argent Vive PLC, for customers we're putting together an exciting multi-channel plan."

Notes to Editors

The service has been designed to take advantage of the iPod Touch and the iPhone using the touch screen interface; it will also work on any other internet enabled phone using the web service.

There are over 1,700 UK bookshops already listed on the service and we aim to roll out inventory information as retailers sign up. Bookshops can add themselves to the site by visiting http://www.bookrabbit.com/bookshop.

BookRabbit is owned and developed by Retail8, the consumer division of ArgentVive plc (ArgentVive.com) formally Samedaybooks plc. ArgentVive plc is an e-commerce group with market leading technology and the development capability, infrastructure and sales models to rapidly expand in B2B and B2C markets.

The aim of the company is to develop online businesses in order to become a major provider of internet based solutions to enterprises across a wide range of industry.

The http://www.bookrabbit.com/ site has a demo of the service and photos are also available from the BookRabbit Media office on +44(0)1932-569-912.

For more information, please contact Martin Hearn at BookRabbit on +44(0)1932-569-912, martin@bookrabbit.com

Argent Vive PLC

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Martin Hearn atBookRabbit on +44(0)1932-569-912, martin@bookrabbit.com

Source: PRNewswire

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