New YP(SM) Developer Program Gives Web and App Developers Access to Millions of Business Listings and Other Local Content

GLENDALE, Calif., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T Interactive's new YP(SM) Developer Program offers app and web developers free access to its leading local search and advertising platform to build their own apps and services.  To kick off the new program, AT&T Interactive is inviting developers across the country to participate in the YP(SM) Developer Challenge, a contest that allows developers to submit innovative local apps using YP(SM) APIs, for a chance to win $5,000 and a sponsored trip to the SXSW Trade Show (March 12-15) in Austin, Texas.

"For developers who want to increase user engagement and provide greater value to their app or web presence, we are giving them direct access to the content that has made AT&T Interactive a leader in local for years," said Mike Fordyce, SVP of Business Development for AT&T Interactive. "We recognize the important role developers are playing in connecting consumers with local businesses both online and on mobile devices in new and innovative ways.  With the YP(SM) Developer Program, we hope to help inspire the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial energy of the developer community and assist them in building apps that better connect consumers with local businesses."

The YP(SM) Developer Program provides developers free access to local business data from more than 17 million local businesses across more than 4,600 categories nationwide and provides developers access to maps, ratings, reviews, deals and coupons through the YP(SM) APIs.  The open platform is available to developers who want to power their local apps or services with local business content. It also offers a robust set of APIs that help connect local businesses with consumers by potentially extending the reach of advertisers beyond AT&T Interactive's owned and operated YP(SM) branded properties, as well as the premier YP(SM) Local Ad Network spanning web, IPTV and mobile.

The YP(SM) Developer Challenge is open to all developers from January 26 through February 19, and winners will be announced on February 28.  As a part of the challenge, developers are invited to submit innovative local apps that use YP(SM) APIs for a chance to win $5,000 in cash, airfare, hotel accommodations to the 2012 SXSW Trade Show held annually in Austin, Texas. The winning team will share booth space with the YP(SM) Developer team at the event to demo their YP(SM) Developer Challenge app or website.

For more information about the rollout of the new YP(SM) Developer Program and for a copy of the rules for YP(SM) Developer Challenge, please visit the YP(SM) Developer portal at http://developer.yp.com, which enables immediate access to APIs, documentation, and a support forum.

About AT&T Interactive

AT&T Interactive, a subsidiary of AT&T Inc., is an industry leader in creating local search products that encourage consumers to discover and engage with local businesses across three screens - online, mobile, and IPTV. YP.com, AT&T Interactive's flagship web property, attracts over 30 million monthly online unique visitors [i]. YP.com is also accessed by millions of users each month via the mobile web. AT&T Interactive consumer apps have a pre-activation presence or have been downloaded through digital app stores on over 40 million mobile phones [ii]. AT&T Interactive local search also offers people search through their YP.com and AnyWho.com properties which, through a third party provider, feature both reverse phone lookup and white pages search.

The YP Local Ad Network helps advertisers grow their business and distributes ads to a distinguished list of top publishers whose presence spans online, mobile and IPTV. AT&T Interactive's wide range of local ad products such as premium listings, performance-based advertising, and search engine marketing provides advertisers an opportunity to increase their presence among consumers who are looking for a local business. 

AT&T Interactive products are supported by a sales force of more than 5,000 from AT&T Advertising Solutions and other resellers. To learn more visit www.adsolutions.att.com.

Keep tabs on YP products by liking YP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/YP or following @YP on Twitter.

[i] Source: AT&T Interactive internal data, 2011 YTD average through December

[ii] Source: AT&T Mobility and AT&T Interactive internal data

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.