United Rentals launches new mobile website

United Rentals has launched a version of its website for use with smart phones, allowing customers to request rental quotes, search for equipment and locate nearby branches via GPS mobile phone systems.

"Mobile technology is the new frontier of customer service," said Kenneth DeWitt, chief information officer. "By investing in a true, platform-specific interface, we have optimized the user's experience on all leading smart phone platforms, including Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile.

"This compatibility is the best way to harness the capabilities of today's smart phones. It ensures that our mobile services are consistently fast and reliable for customers each time they visit the site."

The new mobile website is a part of United Rentals' 'bricks-and-clicks' customer service network that includes its 550 branches in North America, the companay website and a 24/7 call centre.

"In our business, customers are often en route between jobsites or in other situations where laptops are impractical," said Joseph Dixon, vice president of sales. "A contractor may want to search for equipment based on the site conditions he's observing and request a quote on the spot.

"If he needs to find the closest branch, the mobile site pinpoints the location on Google Maps and provides driving directions, telephone number and hours of operation."

The mobile website can be visited via mobile devices at www.unitedrentals.com