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Iconic Australian personalities voice Whereis® iPhone app

September 26, 2012

Available now and free to download, the Whereis® iPhone app ‘Celebrity Voices’ provides voice guided turn-by-turn navigation from Jennifer Hawkins, Dame Edna Everage or Nick Giannopoulos as ‘The Wog Boy’ – helping you get to your destination easily and hands-free.

Built in house by one of Australia’s largest digital marketing and directories businesses, Sensis, the app offers extensive coverage of Australia featuring the most up to date map data from Whereis® Maps, Australia’s local mapping expert.

“We’re proud to be able to offer a comprehensive mapping experience complete with spoken turn-by-turn directions for all iPhone users in Australia. The App will help Australians get to their destination more easily, and ensure each journey is an entertaining one,” said Carl Rigoni, Sensis Executive General Manager, Product.

Chosen for their ability to inject some fun and humour into the navigation experience, the Whereis® app allows users to change between personalities at the touch of a button, ensuring a fun-filled drive that might include some quirky voice commands, including –

-          Roaaaaaad triiiiiiiiiiiiip! – Jennifer Hawkins

-          I felt safe with you…isn't that spooky?  – Dame Edna Everage

-          You, me, this car...mate we're going places! – Nick Giannopoulos as ‘The Wog Boy’

Since it first launched in August 2011, the Whereis® iPhone app has become one of Australia’s most popular navigation apps, offering extensive map coverage using the most up-to-date data from Whereis®, Australia’s local mapping expert. 

“Whether on foot or in the car, the Whereis® iPhone app allows Australians to search for addresses, places of interest and businesses, and be directed straight there with the commands from some of the most recognisable voices in Australia,” said Carl.

“Mapping & Navigation is now the most popular online mobile activity in Australia[1]. We understand that consumers are expecting more and more from their phones, so we wanted to do something fun – we hope that our users enjoy the experience,” he said.

“If you need directions it’s always best to ask a local. Whereis is your local map provider with local market knowledge,” said Carl.

Utilising over 1.4 million points of interest including petrol stations, ATMs, restaurants, car parks and more, the Whereis® iPhone app also enables consumers to drop points of interest on their map with the tap of a button, locate themselves on a map and get directions to a location with or without road tolls.

Available now in the App store, the Whereis® iPhone app is free to download from www.whereis.com/iphone – there are also no data charges for customers subscribed to the Telstra Next G™ network, allowing them to enjoy free unmetered data use of the app (excluding any links to third party sites & content).

See comments below from the three iconic Australian personalities who’s voices are now available on the Whereis® iPhone app.

““Having my voice on the Whereis® iPhone app is really exciting. I’ve never done this before, so I thought it was something different and a bit fun to get involved with. It is a little bit embarrassing though to hear my own voice, but it's a cheeky idea, so I'm all for it.”

Jennifer Hawkins

“I’m thrilled to have my voice added to Whereis® because it really is something they should have thought of a long time ago. I’ve sat in cars listening to boring people, telling my driver where to go and frankly these voices need to be voices with personality and that’s what I’ve injected into my directions”.

Dame Edna Everage

“I loved the opportunity to add my voice to the Whereis® iPhone app. I always wanted the chance to tell people where to go and now I’m getting paid for it! We recorded hundreds of commands that I didn’t even know you can do in your car, along with a few surprises – I just hope that I haven’t offended anyone, especially my Yiayia!

Nick Giannopoulos as ‘The Wog Boy’.

 

For more information on the Whereis iPhone app please visit www.whereis.com/CelebrityVoices

[1] The Australian Online Consumer Report, February 2012, Nielsen.

ABOUT SENSIS

Sensis helps Australians find, buy and sell. Our integrated network of local search and digital marketing solutions delivers real, measurable business leads to Australian businesses. Sensis' multichannel network includes Yellow Pages®, White Pages®, the 1234 and 12456 Call Connect voice services, Whereis® digital mapping solutions and request-for-quote service, Quotify.

This increasingly diverse network spans print, online, voice, mobile, iPhone, iPad, Android, Telstra's T-Hub and satellite navigation, and information can also be shared from online to mobile and social networking sites. Sensis helps ensure our advertisers are found by more customers than ever by managing their presence across a growing number of advertising platforms including search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo!.

® Registered trade mark of Telstra Corporation Limited (ABN 33 051 775 556). Sensis Pty Ltd (ABN 30 007 423 912) has responsibility for production of the Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories and related products on behalf of Telstra Corporation Limited.

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