Traveler phone service debuts in Utah
The 511 information system will offer Olympic game-related information such as event locations, driving directions and public transit instructions.
The nation's first voice-activated 511 travel service line, which includes information on traffic and road conditions, debuts today in Utah. Utah was one of six states selected to launch the service after the Federal Communications Commission designated 511, a free public service, as a nationwide number for travel information. Tellme, in Mountain View, Calif., signed a three-year, $1.8 million contract with the Utah Department of Transportation to run the service. The service uses voice recognition software to retrieve and translate Internet information, including traffic, road conditions and public transit hours of operation and fares for buses and TRAX light rail lines. The 511 service, costing $600,000 annually, will also provide Olympic-related information such as event locations and driving directions.
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