Next Phase Media, Inc. (NPM), an online referral source, has announced that its new subsidiary, OpenAuto.com, plans to change the way dealers think of buying leads. OpenAuto.com says it will be the first company to provide dealers with the ability to view leads without charge, select only the leads they want and pay for only the ones they select.

According to the company, OpenAuto.com addresses the primary problem plaguing today's auto referral services. All other auto lead companies require dealers to accept all the leads for their franchises. Many of the leads delivered each month are for high demand cars. As a result, the dealer ends up either buying worthless leads for vehicles they can't get or paying thousands of dollars in lead fees in order to sell a car at a gross profit that's not much more than the cost.

OpenAuto.com says its service puts control in the hands of dealers, who can now choose among hundreds of local leads based on their own criteria, including in-stock inventory, location of customer, and the gross margin available to them on a given vehicle. Using OpenAuto.com, the company says dealers can review all information, including location of customer, distance from dealership, and the specifics of the desired vehicle. The dealer can then either reject the lead or accept it and be presented with the buyer's contact information.

The company says every lead will be priced based on the potential profitability to the dealer, and all lead prices will be clearly stated at the time of the dealer's review.

"OpenAuto.com and Next Phase Media are determined to deliver a clear and unequivocal value proposition to auto dealers across the United States. Our team developed the lead programs currently sold by major service providers, and we are changing the rules of engagement once again," said Payam Zamani, CEO & president of Next Phase Media. "OpenAuto.com will drive sales opportunities, not waste your time or money. This is a great addition to our family of online services. OpenAuto.com strengthens our position as the leading provider of online services in the automotive industry."

Dealers can sign up for the service online at www.OpenAuto.com beginning on April 14.

"Many auto dealers are clearly dissatisfied with the way current programs charge dealerships. I've heard too many stories of dealerships being charged thousands of dollars for leads they couldn't service. OpenAuto.com will radically change the way dealers think of buying leads," said John Truchard, vice president of Next Phase Media's automotive division. "OpenAuto.com is now the smart choice in auto lead referrals. Given a choice, we believe many dealers will opt for a program that gives them the flexibility to choose only the leads they want and can service."

Next Phase Media says it has built a growing online media company by resurrecting and integrating some of the Internet's best-known brands. All of the company's properties utilize a proprietary unified Lead Distribution Platform, which enables NPM to address a variety of needs for every consumer that comes into the network. Other NPM properties include iMotors.com, an online car-buying service helping people buy and sell new and used cars; and AgentConnect.com, a residential realty referral service that helps people buy and sell homes and property by matching them with pre-qualified realtors in their area. CarClub.com, provides another option for NPM's audience of automobile consumers and dealers. In addition to finding new and used vehicles for automobile buyers, CarClub says it offers dealers exclusive territories, resulting in more personalized service to its customers. iCastle.com, is a home improvement site which matches home and commercial property owners with qualified local contractors.

About OpenAuto.com

OpenAuto.com connects car buyers and local auto dealers who have the right vehicle to meet their needs. OpenAuto.com says it allows dealers to choose which leads they want to buy. Dealers are allowed to review all leads and accept or reject them based on their own criteria. The result is a new service model that promises to dramatically increase the ratio of actual sales to referrals.

About Next Phase Media

Next Phase Media, Inc. is an online referral source, connecting consumers with the products and professional services they seek in the automotive, residential real estate and home improvement industries. The privately held company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. Current brands include iMotors.com, OpenAuto.com, AgentConnect.com, iCastle.com, and CarClub.com.