Phone Systems Type Mobile

Friends and supporters of New York marathon runners this year will be able to track the progress and medical status of their loved ones via their mobile phones.

Plum Voice, an automated telephony solutions company have teamed up with New York Road Runners (NTRR) and announced their development of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) application. The system works as spectators can call an 800 number; identifying the runner they are looking for by bib number or by name and receive an update on how they are doing. Thought to not only benefit friends and family, but also medical forces, Dr. Stuart Weiss Medical Director for the ING New York City Marathon and New York Road Runners said:

"How best to communicate the status of a runner to their family and friends in a clear and timely manner is a key goal for the medical team this year, we feel the IVR solution will contribute positively to those efforts".

Every year some 40,000 people enter the marathon from all over the world with hopes of completing the physical and sometimes emotional challenge. The innovative service will be tailored to all, with availability in six languages including English and Spanish.



“Plum Voice's hosted IVR services will support the Marathon's underlying data infrastructure by providing all the IVR technology and telecommunications to support large events like the ING New York City Marathon," said Andrew Kuan, chief executive officer of Plum Voice. "Because cell phones are ubiquitous, a voice application provides the easiest way for Marathon spectators to get information about a runner."

The event which takes place this weekend (7^th November) will see participant’s travel through all five New York City boroughs from Staten Island, over Brooklyn Bridge and on to Manhattan.