
Director of Public Relations
7770 Regents Road, Suite 113-223
San Diego, CA 92122
Coca-Cola Zero™ Rock 'n' Roll Marathon® and WiggleWireless Connect Marathoners to Family and Friends
WiggleWireless broadcast channels deliver instantaneous opt-in text message updates to mobile phone users for total event participation
San Diego - June 1, 2005 - On June 5, the Coca-Cola Zero™ Rock 'n' Roll Marathon® and WiggleWireless will join forces to connect thousands to the excitement of one of San Diego's most anticipated racing events.
WiggleWireless is enabling spectators to track the progress of participants along the race course and receive race coverage updates through text messaging. Mobile phone users who choose to sign up for the WiggleWireless broadcast service can select to receive pre-race information, race-day coverage and can track participants and athletes for ultimate race involvement.
Nearly 200 million Americans carry a cell phone as a constant companion, and text messaging is the latest communication trend. According to a January 2005 Frost & Sullivan report, the number of people who use their mobile phones for text messaging will nearly triple by 2007 compared to 2003, increasing from 26.4 million subscribers to 75.5 million. Dedicated to connecting participants and spectators seamlessly at the race, Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon has selected to offer this innovative technology at the event.
“Never before has this marathon been able to involve so many fans and supporters,” said Tia Farnetti, event manager for the Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with WiggleWireless on creating the most exciting and connected marathon possible.”
“WiggleWireless utilizes the most convenient and ubiquitous device known to man. We give event spectators freedom to know that they can be anywhere and still receive all the information they want, without having to look for it and without being tied down,” said Jeff Pokonosky, president of WiggleWireless and former QUALCOMM veteran. “If they so choose, they will receive up-to-the-minute updates about their loved ones and friends and will stay connected to all the excitement of one of the world's most innovative races.”
The marathon utilizes the computerized ChampionChip timing system, which records each runner's actual running time to the second. As the runners cross over timing mats located at the starting line, 10K mark, half marathon point, 20-mile mark and finish line, a magnetic field around the timing mat recognizes the chip number. That information is then transmitted to WiggleWireless and the data is sorted and sent to the individuals tracking that specific runner. All this happens in near real-time, allowing everyone receiving updates the ultimate level of participation.
Mobile phone users sign up for WiggleWireless at www.wigglewireless.com and select broadcast channels of interest to receive: pre-event information, race day coverage and individual athlete tracking. Text messages will include weather forecasts, course conditions, logistical information, athlete progress and more. During the Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, WiggleWireless will send the requested updates directly to the designated mobile phone users. The service is free and each message is tagged with a relevant sponsor's name and is paid for by that sponsor. People interested in signing up to receive WiggleWireless race messages should visit www.wigglewireless.com.
About the Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
Voted Best Race and Best Post-Race Party by Competitor Magazine, the Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego are a unique event that combines running with entertainment. Televised locally and nationally, over 40 bands play live music on 26 stages and 2000 cheerleaders compete for the "Spirit on the Course" award. In addition, the event features a post-race concert at Coors Amphitheatre highlighting a major rock 'n' roll headliner. In the last seven years, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon has hosted Live, Chris Isaak, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, Hootie & the Blowfish, Chicago, Pat Benatar, and Huey Lewis and the News. The marathon weekend also includes a two day Health & Fitness Expo.
About WiggleWireless
WiggleWireless has developed a mobile marketing platform that broadcasts relevant, self-selected information directly to mobile phone users how they want it, when they want it, wherever they are. Utilizing the most convenient and ubiquitous device known to man, WiggleWireless gives users the freedom to step away from the traditional information sources that tie them down. Users select the message categories they want to receive and WiggleWireless then broadcasts the information instantaneously as soon as it's available directly to their mobile phone. Based in San Diego, WiggleWireless was founded in 2002 by Jeff Pokonosky.