About.com Health, a consumer health Web site in the U.S, has launched Calorie Count Mobile, a free service that allows users to receive nutritional data and ratings of over 70,000 foods on their mobile devices.

An extension of About.com’s Calorie Count Plus Web site, which features free guidance and support to dieters, the mobile version of the site provides users with the opportunity to maintain their existing diet goals on the go, offering quick access to information on foods, calories, serving size and nutrition grades – all from a mobile phone.

Calorie Count Mobile is currently offered through a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) site and Short Message Service (SMS).

Consumers can use their mobile devices to access a WAP version of Calorie Count’s Web site or obtain their information via simple text messaging (SMS).

“Our users can now take Calorie Count out to dinner with them to determine which menu items allow them to maintain their diet goals,” Marjorie Martin, SVP and general manager, About.com Health said.

“With more and more people becoming increasingly conscious about their diet, this service provides users with instant access to important nutritional data.”

To access the SMS version, users can simply text “food” along with the name of the food for which they are seeking calorie data (example: food Caesar salad), to 432584. The interactive service will then text a reply with basic nutritional information on the food.

Founded in 1996, About.com is producers of original content. The site’s expert Guides provide users with accurate and unbiased information to help them live happier, healthier and more successful lives. In March 2005, About.com was acquired by The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, which includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com.

Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

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