By Meg Tirrell
Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- AOL, Time Warner Inc.'s Internet unit, is introducing wireless services to entice some of its 114 million monthly U.S. online visitors to access the company's Web sites with their mobile phones.
A mobile-phone search at aol.com will now yield results a wireless user wants, Scott Falconer, executive vice president of AOL's mobile unit, said in an interview from San Francisco. These include ringtones, weather, movie listings and restaurant locations, he said.
AOL is also introducing MyMobile, free software that lets users access AOL Mail, MapQuest and the Moviefone ticket service from their cell phones. At first, MyMobile will be available only for devices running Windows Mobile, according to Falconer. A test version for other devices is planned for later this quarter, he said.
``Job No. 1 is to really make our users aware of these services and make it very easy for them,'' Falconer said.
The services are free and advertiser-supported, Falconer said. AOL bought mobile Web advertising company Third Screen Media Co. in May for an undisclosed amount.
AOL's first goal is to coax its own Internet users over to mobile Web, Falconer said, noting the company had 114 million unique monthly visitors in the U.S. in the second quarter and 200 million worldwide.
It is working with mobile Web company Thumbplay to provide ringtones as search results, something it says it is the first to do. AOL and Thumbplay have a revenue-sharing agreement, Falconer said.
Other new features include access to AOL's instant- messaging service via mobile phones without downloading a program and the ability to listen to music stored on an Internet-connected computer through a cell phone.
Time Warner, based in New York, rose 9 cents to $18.05 yesterday in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have lost 17 percent this year.
To contact the reporter on this story: Meg Tirrell in New York at mtirrell@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: October 23, 2007 00:01 EDT
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