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DriveThere Unveils Roadside Assistance Program

27 June 2000

DriveThere Unveils Roadside Assistance Program
      Service from Auto Help Line Provides Peace of Mind and Complements
             Anytime/Anywhere Access to Online Motoring Assistant

    ST. LOUIS, June 27 As part of its mission to build the
ultimate online assistant for motorists, DriveThere today added to its robust
suite of services by unveiling its emergency roadside assistance program.  The
service is being provided by Auto Help Line of America, one of the largest
independent road service networks in the United States.
    "We're very excited about offering Auto Help Line's services to our
members, because hands-down, Auto Help Line is the best in the industry," said
Allen Cohen, CEO of DriveThere, a revolutionary company that is combining the
power of the Internet with cutting-edge voice-browsing technology to
dramatically improve the driving experience for business motorists.  "Our goal
is to offer our customers best-of-breed services, online and offline.
Emergency roadside assistance is probably the most critical service we'll
offer, so it was important that we partner with the best provider we could."
    The relationship with Auto Help Line, which has been in operation since
1976, provides DriveThere with a nationwide support network of more than
19,000 garages and 95,000 tow trucks.  The emergency service is accessed by
dialing a single 800 number, regardless of where the member may be in the
U.S., and tow trucks typically arrive in 30 minutes or less.  The service is
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
    The emergency roadside service completes the initial bundle of services
that DriveThere will offer to wireless communications carriers, ISPs,
enterprise software vendors and professional service providers such as
corporate travel vendors.  Those organizations will in turn offer DriveThere
to their corporate clients as an optional add-on to their bundle of services.
    The primary DriveThere offering is its voice portal, which will provide
business travelers and commuters with anytime/anywhere access to the Internet
using standard wireless phones.  As a result, drivers will be able to quickly
and accurately obtain driving directions to thousands of roadside
destinations -- restaurants, hotels, rest stops, gas stations, pharmacies and
hospitals as well as real-time traffic and weather reports -- using only
verbal commands, and still keep their eyes on the road.
    The voice portal is being built in conjunction with Lucent Technologies --
New Ventures Group.  Lucent's Bell Labs developed PhoneBrowser, the technology
that serves as the voice portal's backbone.  According to Dave Stahl,
Director, Lucent New Ventures Group, "The combination of DriveThere and
PhoneBrowser is a true 'killer app' for the business traveler, and with the
addition of emergency road service, it's even more valuable.  It's the first
in a stream of applications we will be introducing to deliver mobile,
Web-based services to business travelers and commuters."
    The two companies are already working on the next generation of DriveThere
services.  Over time, DriveThere will expand to provide additional information
such as alternate routing to help drivers circumvent traffic jams.  Other
functions will include vehicle registration and driver's license renewal,
online traffic ticket payment and instant access to business services such as
shipping, fax and e-mail.
    "Auto Help Line is a perfect match for DriveThere," said Joe Fazio,
President of Auto Help Line.  "The combination of our service and
DriveThere.com provides members with everything they need, when they need it.
It's the ultimate safety net."
    "DriveThere has something to offer everyone who sits behind the wheel,"
said Cohen.  "With the roadside assistance program in place, it's ideal for
corporate groups as well as individual motorists."