Users can opt-in for the service and set up a profile that lets them receive the deal alerts via text message. The application is currently available to AT&T customers.

“The strategy is to continue to increase the value of the Where service to consumers,” said Dan Gilmartin, vice president of marketing at Where Inc., Boston. “There are a lot of coupon/offer applications on the market, which are great when you remember to use them and have the time to search through and discover the deals you might be interested in.

“Our approach is different in that you give us some information about what you want and when you want it, and we will find the deals and SMS them to you when you want them, all based on your location,” he said.

Where is a local search and recommendation service on mobile and the PC Web.

Where to?
After downloading the application, consumers can select by proximity, day of the week, time of day or by content categories such as restaurants and shopping.

Users can manage their alerts and are updated with a text message every week at the specific time and area that they choose.

“Mobile is inherently local and provides a great medium for local merchants to engage consumers in real time and get consumers to redeem coupons and save money,” Mr. Gilmartin said. “Let’s say you cut a coupon out of your weekend paper for a drink special on Thursday, are you really going to remember to bring that coupon with you on Thursday?

“If you opt in to Where Deal Alerts, the discount offer or coupon is automatically pushed to a consumers’ phone,” he said. “For local merchants – it’s the ability to target appropriate consumers drives local foot traffic – it’s an ideal opportunity for both consumer and merchant. 

 “We have access to network-based location on mobile devices allowing us to determine the location of the user at the time they designate and deliver deals based on their preferences.”

Where now?
The service is currently only available to AT&T users and it will soon be available across all handsets and carriers.

Where also has an iPhone, BlackBerry and Android application that lets user find nearby events, restaurants and business reviews.

Users can also share their finding via several different social networks, including Facebook and Twitter.

“The redemption processes vary by merchant,” Mr. Gilmartin said. “Some merchants have bar codes, others have unique offer IDs.

“The terms of redemption are all contained in the coupon info on the offer detail page,” he said. “The Where application is preload on most AT&T devices and the new Deal Alerts feature is available on a number of these select AT&T phones.”