AT&T to launch Deal of the Day group-discount offers on YP.com
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AT&T Inc. is preparing to launch a ‘Deal of the Day’ service on YP.com in an effort to get into the market for group buying discounts dominated by Groupon and LivingSocial.
The Deal of the Day service will officially debut next month, but consumers can sign up for the offers at YP.com, the Yellow Pages directory listing website that AT&T owns, said Karla Enriquez, a spokeswoman for the telecommunications giant.
AT&T is offering $10 toward a user’s first Deal of the Day purchase. Much like Groupon, LivingSocial and the new Facebook Deals, the YP.com offers will make available localized discounts tied to group buying.
The offers are contingent on a minimum number of buyers committing to them. If not enough people agree to buy a discounted item or service, the offer expires.
‘We’ll email you real deals for your real-life needs,’ YP.com said on the Deal of the Day registration page. ‘Relevant, local savings that help you live better, smarter, happier -- whether it’s going out to dinner or dry-cleaning your power-suit.’
The initial rollout of the Deal of the Day program will include offers in Atlanta and Los Angeles, as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth area where AT&T is based.
YP.com is run by the phone carrier’s AT&T Interactive unit, which is headquartered in Glendale.
AT&T Interactive is planning on expanding the service to more cities and eventually offering national discounts. The discounted offers will be available through YP mobile apps as well as YP.com, AT&T said.
‘Given AT&T’s unique assets and reach in local search, entrance into the daily deals marketplace is a natural opportunity to expand a nearly [$1 billion] local advertising business and offer another way for merchants to connect with consumers,’ AT&T said in a statement. ‘The initial 3 cities were chosen based on consumer and advertiser engagement opportunities and existing relationships.’
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-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles