Fwix Powers Growing Pool of New Apps

Open API Platform Already Seeing New App Creation; Now Offers News by Category


SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - October 20, 2009) - Fwix, the new real-time local newswire, today announced that after opening its API platform in mid-September, it is already seeing app development that is extending the service's offerings. In fact, the company already receives 2.5 million API requests per month, only one month after launch. Additionally, the company today announced a series of interest-based categories for both its widgets and city-specific sites. These categories will allow users to see local, up-to-the-minute news sorted by topics including politics, business, sports, entertainment and crime.

The company unveiled a series of new apps, including PhoneFwix (built on Twilio's API) and LocalNews for the Samsung Instinct Phone. United Press International (UPI), global provider of critical information to media outlets, businesses, and governments, is also currently developing a custom solution on the Fwix API.

Fwix gives bloggers and site publishers the ability to add local news to their sites and applications to better serve their readers. By adding interest-oriented categories to both Fwix city sites and the widget network, the company gives readers and publishers a way to tap into news as it relates to specific interests -- all from the most relevant, vetted sources, and in real time.

"We're really enthusiastic about the new apps that developers are already building on our API," said Darian Shirazi, founder and CEO of Fwix. "Now, media outlets and developers can take advantage of adding even more customizable local news to their Web properties in the form of categories that are targeted specifically to their audience's interests."

Fwix combines local news with local blog content and stories reported from the street for a comprehensive view of a given city's news. With 10 million unique visitors across its content network, Fwix continues to expand its reach and its service. Most recently, the company announced its availability in the UK, in addition to nearly 80 U.S. and Canadian cities.

To find out more about the Wire API and the widget builder, please visit fwix.com/api and the Fwix widget builder page.

About Fwix

Fwix is a real-time local newswire, delivering relevant news as it happens by bringing together local news, blogs and citizen journalism. Founded in 2008, Fwix offers the most advanced platform for finding, optimizing, categorizing and distributing this news, and delivers a unique model for news creation and consumption. Fwix is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by BlueRun Ventures. To tap into Fwix, start breaking stories, and find out more about the content network, please visit www.fwix.com.

Contact Information: Media Contact Kasey Fleisher or Emilie Cole fwix (at) launchsquad (dot) com 415.625.8555