Silicon Valley 100 (SV100), A Select Group of Early Adopters, Finds TrafficGauge
Saves Time and Frustration Navigating Notorious Bay Area Traffic

SEATTLE — June 30, 2006 — What happens when 100 of the Silicon Valley's hardest driving group of early adopters takes the newest traffic tech gadget for a test drive? Much to the delight of TrafficGauge Founder Ryan Peterson, the overwhelming majority of them found the product useful and said they would recommend it to others. They also coined it a “traffic efficiency tool.”

Known as the SV100, the buzz generated about a product by this influential group of technology movers and shakers can “tip” a product, similar to the successes of such products as iPod, Tivo, and Netflix – all companies that tipped in the San Francisco Bay Area before gaining success nationally. With a history of very candid feedback and the power of this group's communication network, the team behind Seattle-based TrafficGauge knew it had a tough audience. So when the 30-day trial ended and feedback came in, Peterson was relieved to gather valuable testimonials and a wealth of positive comments.

“We believe in the product as a valuable traffic tool, but to hear it from this highly influential group, it added credibility to what we're doing as we roll the product out nationally,” Peterson says.

Feedback showed that members of the SV 100 were saving anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours per week by using TrafficGauge. Additionally, many said that it reduced stress by letting them know what to expect on the highways when they got in the car.

“In terms of number and quality of response among our group I would give TrafficGauge an A,” said Auren Hoffman, CEO, Stonebrick Group and the founder of the SV100. “In addition to being a practical and much-needed product TrafficGauge hits the sweet spot of what we are doing. These are all early adopters and they are enthusiastic about being the first on the block to put a new product through its paces.”

Survey Highlights
When asked whether they would recommend TrafficGauge to friends or colleague, most said yes, with one well known respondent, Tim O'Reilly, already having posted a review to his blog:

Several respondents found TrafficGauge was helpful in both steering clear of traffic tie-ups and finding an alternate, quicker route:

• “I avoided a 5 car pile-up at 7am. I normally wouldn't have even considered checking at that hour.”
• “It reminded me of a day baseball game and made me rethink the time I would leave the city.”
• “My boss was in San Jose leaving a meeting at rush hour. I was able to direct her to the quickest route and we were able to get to our next meeting on time.”

Or not heading out into traffic at all.

• “I was going to go to a meeting in the South Bay and determined that the road would take too long to be able to make the meeting so we teleconferenced instead.”
• “I was going to leave the house to go to the East Bay and the product showed the Bay Bridge had heavy traffic so I just waited it out and did some more work from home.”

The simplicity of the always-on, fixed-function TrafficGauge also appealed to many of the respondents, a sample of comments:

• “It is simple and serves it purpose amazingly well. 511 seems like a pain after using this.”
• “Saves having to go to the PC to see Sigalert, which you sometimes forget to do. Much faster than fetching CHP site on the Treo, though less detailed.”

One of the respondents offered the following anecdote: “My car was broken into two days after I got it and the TrafficGauge was the only thing that was stolen.”

Being from the tech sector, members of the group also had suggestions for improving the product that were surprisingly low-tech. Among the suggestions:

• “Give away more of these to get people blogging about it.”
• “I was going to leave the house to go to the East Bay and the product showed the Bay Bridge had heavy traffic so I just waited it out and did some more work from home.”

About TrafficGauge
TrafficGauge^®, Inc. is dedicated to easing traffic problems in major cities around the world. It does this by empowering people with real-time traffic information, allowing them to make better decisions for their commute. Its primary product is the TrafficGauge^® Mobile Traffic Map “the first real-time mobile traffic map”, which first launched in Seattle where the company is headquartered. TrafficGauge's always on, traffic map gives drivers an overview of freeway grids and pinpoints traffic slowdowns. Data for TrafficGauge is sourced from department of transportation wire loop sensors embedded in freeways. Founded in 2001, privately-held TrafficGauge has launched practical time-saving TrafficGauge Mobile Traffic Map Handheld for Seattle, Los Angeles/Orange County, the San Francisco Bay Area and Singapore, with more cities to follow. Additionally, the company offers a free download of its service with TrafficGauge for PC, TrafficGauge for Cell Phone and other applications. Both services show real-time traffic information for most major U.S. cities. For additional information about TrafficGauge, its products, and cities served visit www.trafficgauge.com.

About SV100
The Silicon Valley 100 was founded by Auren Hoffman, Chairman of The Stonebrick Group and Rapleaf, and comprises the one hundred biggest influencers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization sends products to these influencers and each of them is committed to trying and using the product. Silicon Valley 100 gets interesting and leading-edge products and services into the hands of some of the country's most impactful influencers. Each of each of them is committed to trying and using it. If they like it, they will tell others in their network, which is a powerfuland very personal endorsement. These influencers could help tip products that early adapters gravitate to. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SV100: Please contact Patrick Flanders of the Connector Group/Silicon Valley 100 – patf@connectorgroup.com or call (925) 285.4352.