INFONXX (pronounced “INFO – N – X – X”), provider of directory assistance and enhanced information services to both enterprises and service providers, announced this week a partnership with Stealth Communications, owner and operator of the Voice Peering Fabric (VPF). The partnership will provide VPF members access to a new range of voice directory services.

 

Through the partnership, INFONXX becomes the preferred provider to the VPF of directory assistance and enhanced information services via its IP network, which currently handles more than a billion calls worldwide. 

 

During preliminary discussions with Stealth regarding how INFONXX can help the VPF community and what kind of customers VPF has on its platform, it became apparent that “was a marriage made in heaven,” said Nitin Krishna, INFONXX’s product manager for the VPF project. 

 

Not only does the VPF membership include the types of customers INFONXX is after, but with connectivity though the VPF infrastructure provided by Stealth, members already are connected, which saves money for both INFONXX and its users. 

 

INFONXX can be very flexible with what services it offers to its users.  Each customer can customize their own services, a definite benefit since enterprises tend to want different services than service providers, and wireline customers’ requirements vary from those of wireless customers. 

 

“In addition to traditional directory assistance service, INFONXX will deliver a diverse array of superior information services ranging from driving directions, movies, news, weather, and operator services,” said Margaret Scholl, CEO of INFONXX North America.

 

Scholl added: “Our wide range of customers, including carriers and enterprises, receive assistance over automated, SMS, or live customer service representative mode. We are excited to offer VPF members first-rate quality of service, while saving costs and significantly decreasing the time to market.”

 

In addition to its standard directory assistance, which is the basis for its entire product line, INFONXX makes available 14 additional product sets to its users. These include, enhanced services (e.g., weather, traffic, movies, etc.), text direct, Spanish language services, concierge services, location-based services, personal address books, and much more. 

 

Krishna explained that the goal is to provide a personalized product that adds to each customer’s satisfaction level. “Every product should enhance customer experience, and that’s what our goal is,” he said.

 

INFONXX will enhance the VPF peer-to-peer connections for VoIP telephony traffic with premier directory services. These services will be delivered over private and direct connections that increase the services the VPF provides to its members.

 

“Through our partnership with INFONXX, we strengthen the VPF services available to members,” noted Shrihari Pandit founder and CEO of Stealth Communications. “By using the VPF to interconnect to services from members like INFONXX, carriers and enterprises simplify their network, reduce operating expenses, and are able to offer more services to their users.”

 

Added Krishna: “The value proposition, in an overall perspective, is that you don’t have to connect to INFONXX through multiple connections. You come to VPF; I’m there, you’re there, so let’s just connect and enable you, not in months, but in just days.”

 

In addition to its current service offerings, INFONXX is currently exploring several other new services and technologies, including the ability to more efficiently implement voice recognition software to enable more voice-enabled services, especially for wireless customers. 

 

As Krishna noted, there are three things people take with them in the morning — their wallet, their keys, and they cell phone. By catering to wireless users, including personalizing content based on individual user preferences and current locations, INFONXX will be able to create a user-friendly environment, which, in turn, enhances customer satisfaction — and that is the ultimate goal.