WTNZ-TV Launches Free Mobile Traffic Report

WTNZ-TV, the Fox affiliate in Knoxville, Tenn., has launched ad-supported traffic reports for mobile devices. The service, dubbed “Fox 43 Traffic Tracker,” relies on 65 traffic cameras operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The service, powered by Mobileyes software from 3rd Dimension of New York, is compatible with data-enabled cell phones on the Sprint, Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile networks, and works on Blackberrys, Palm Treos and Motorola Qs. Users can tap into real-time images from any of the cameras by programming keystrokes into their handheld devices. The necessary software is downloadable via dial-in or from the Fox 43 Web site.

Knoxville represents the fifth market in the country to launch the mobile traffic service. The first was WCBS-TV in New York in early 2007. Houston then went live last December, followed by Indianapolis and Kansas City, both in March. 3rd Dimension said additional roll-outs are planned for the remainder of the year.