Text2Drive Powers Mobile Marketing Campaign for the 2010 Chicago Auto Show

February 12, 2010

Chicago Automobile Trade Association selects Text2Drive to provide mobile platform for auto show

Chicago, IL, February 12, 2010 – Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) announced that they have partnered with Text2Drive to harness the power of the mobile communication channel throughout this year’s Chicago Auto Show. CATA will incorporate the Text2Drive Mobile Marketing platform to collect opt-in mobile numbers of those in the Chicago area that will later be incorporated in the CATA’s promotional advertising campaigns leading up to the auto show. The innovative Text2Drive Platform will be used to drive show attendance and increase attendee’s participation by raising awareness and creating a “buzz” around special events, featured vehicles and show promotions.

Recognizing the power of the mobile platform, Text2Drive offers car shoppers a very quick, easy and hassle-free method of obtaining vehicle information without the need of the Internet on their phones. “According to Nielsen only 30-40 percent of consumers have Internet connectivity on their phones. Text2Drive allows car shoppers to search inventory, receive vehicle information including photos and special incentives, and communicate instantly with sellers via text messaging from their cell phones,” said Gregg Owen, CEO & Co-Founder of Text2Drive. “Text2Drive offers many compelling reasons for consumers to opt-in, resulting in our clients being able to create large mobile networks. Once the network is created we afford our clients the ability to easily collect, track, and organize this data so they can continue to remarket their products and services to interested consumers.”

“The best part about Text2Drive is that it provides multiple benefits to our attendees and exhibitors,” said Dave Sloan, president of CATA. “Not only can we leverage this technology to help us promote the show and use it throughout the show for marketing, our exhibitors can use it to uniquely promote their brands. Imagine someone at the show looking at the new Chevy Camaro and wanting more information, using Text2Drive they can immediately receive pictures and all the important information about the vehicle right to their phone.”

In addition to the auto show campaign, the CATA has created an introductory Text2Drive program for their dealer members.  This program provides tools for the dealer’s website while incorporating the Text2Drive online mobile number collection widget on Drivechicago.com.

Text2Drive is powered by leading mobile marketing and mobile commerce company, QWASI, Inc.  The Philadelphia-based company provides cross-market interactive solutions for fortune 500 companies, as well as SMBs (Small to Medium Businesses), across the nation.  “We are excited to see the Chicago Auto Show embrace the power of mobile connection with their exhibitors and show attendees,” notes Dave Geipel, COO of QWASI, Inc.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW
Sanctioned by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. First staged in 1901, 2010 will mark the 102nd edition of the show. The Chicago Auto Show will open to the public Feb. 12-22. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Feb. 12-21) and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Feb. 21). For additional information visit: www.ChicagoAutoShow.com

ABOUT TEXT2DRIVE
Text2Drive is a pioneer in providing the automotive industry with exclusive tools to leverage the most powerful, efficient, and most popular communication channel ever created. Text2Drive provides its clients with platform to build their own mobile network and maximize the value of that network. The Text2Drive platform has greater reach and appeal because it is the only solution that allows the consumer to search dealer inventory, receive information and photos, receive coupons and instantly connect with the client via chatting/texting, all this without the consumer needing the internet on their phones. For additional information please visit www.text2drive.com, or email info@automotiveinternetmedia.com

ABOUT QWASI
QWASI, Inc, is a leading mobile solutions provider of interactive applications for clients across the US utilizing SMS (text messaging), MMS, WAP and iPhone applications, QWASI makes complexity to simple with mobile marketing, mCommerce (mobile commerce), private label mobile search tools, event marketing, mobile chat, Mobile IM (MIM) applications, mobile real estate marketing services and mobile alerting for Fortune 1000 businesses. QWASI powers the Text2Drive service.

QWASI CONTACT
Patricia Scanlon, QWASI, 877-747-9274, patricia.scanlon @ qwasi.com