MWC: NAVTEQ Launches NAVTEQ Discover Cities Globally

Product Brings the Power of a Local Guide to Mobile Devices

NAVTEQ announced the global launch of NAVTEQ Discover Cities which is the first bundled digital map data and location content to bring the power of a local guide to mobile devices. The product is now available for major
cities in Europe, with plans in place to expand to major Asian and Latin
American cities later in the year in addition to multiple existing North
American cities.

NAVTEQ Discover Cities combines pedestrian thoroughfares like
sidewalks, walkways, tunnels and bridges with time-sensitive public transit
system information to enable true multi-modal routing. For the first time,
urban travelers in Europe with enabled devices will be able to take full
advantage of their surroundings by being able to get from place to place
using the most time efficient and closest transportation option. Business
travelers and tourists will also have a better understanding of what’s
around them, enhancing orientation even in unfamiliar cities for greater
efficiency on business trips and more memorable vacations. This represents
a significant increase in features and functionality than previous versions
of the product.

When used in combination with other location content from NAVTEQ, such
as JiWire Wi Fi hotspots, branded travel guides, 3D Landmarks and 3D City
Models, Discover Cities gives users a richer, more informed travel
experience and assists their transition from one type of transportation to
another during a journey.

 

[Read more]

NAVTEQ Announces NAVTEQ Traffic in Europe

Leading North American Traffic Provider to Launch Multiple European Products in 2008

NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation and location based solutions, today announced the expansion of NAVTEQ Traffic to Europe. The company has announced plans to introduce both its real-time NAVTEQ Traffic product and NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns, a product featuring historic traffic data that further optimizes routing in navigation systems and on-line mapping, in Europe in 2008.

NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns will initially be available in Germany and the U.K. with further expansion underway. As Traffic Patterns provides statistical information of traffic speed at certain times, real-time traffic solutions provide the actual speed at any given location at any time. Real-time NAVTEQ Traffic products are first expected to be launched in Spain. Demonstrations of how NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns and real-time NAVTEQ Traffic products enhance drive times and enable innovative new solutions can be seen at this year’s GSMA Mobile World Congress, booth #1G45, including the new “Fastest Drive Now” application.

“Our customers have been asking NAVTEQ to expand our traffic leadership
to Europe,” said Howard Hayes, Vice President Dynamic Content Services for NAVTEQ. “We’re now confident that we will be able to provide the quality of data needed to successfully launch in Europe and meet these requirements.”

NAVTEQ Traffic is a well-established leader in the North American market providing cutting edge traffic services and solutions in a wide variety of formats and business models. NAVTEQ’s experience and leadership in the fast paced US traffic market will allow for the creation of state-of-the-art traffic services for the European market.

At GSMA Mobile World Congress, February 11-14, 2008, NAVTEQ is
demonstrating its location content services and solutions in booth # 1G45.

Source: NAVTEQ press release

Nokia 500 Auto Navigation Features NAVTEQ Map Data

Nokia launches second PND with high quality navigation, bluetooth handsfree and multimedia applications

NAVTEQ is supplying map data for the new Nokia 500 Auto Navigation personal navigator, which is the company’s second PND.

Designed to offer navigation, communication and multimedia features,
the Nokia 500 Auto Navigation has a large 4.3″ touch screen, an intuitive,
easy to use interface; and integrated GPS and TMC (for traffic information)
receivers. With very recent (at least mid 2007) pan-European, high quality
maps from NAVTEQ, there have been no compromises on the navigation
function.

 

[Read more]

Nokia to acquire NAVTEQ

Nokia and NAVTEQ today announced a definitive agreement for Nokia to acquire NAVTEQ. Under the terms of the agreement, Nokia will pay $78 in cash for each share of NAVTEQ including outstanding options for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $8.1 billion (euro 5.7 billion), or approximately $7.7 billion (euro 5.4 billion) net of NAVTEQ existing cash balance. The acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals and NAVTEQ shareholders’ approval.

The navigation area is a fast growing business, and with location-based services expanding rapidly into mobile communications devices, the industry is poised for even further growth. NAVTEQ brings a number of key assets to Nokia: a great team with best-in-world maps and navigation industry expertise, a strong customer base and an industry-leading map data and technology platform with the broadest geographical coverage.

NAVTEQ will continue to provide the most advanced and flexible map data platform to navigation industry players. With NAVTEQ, Nokia will further strengthen its location based services offering and bring to market the most innovative, context aware Nokia Internet services with accelerated time to market. 

[Read more]

Nokia in talks to acquire Navteq

Nokia was deep in discussions on Sunday night to buy navigation software maker Navteq Corp the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

With a market value of $7.61 billion, Navteq would be one of Nokia’s largest-ever corporate acquisitions, the report said.

The two sides have been in discussions over the past few weeks, but it was still possible those talks could crumble over last-minute issues, the report said.

Nokia and Navteq were not immediately available for comment.

Source: WallSt.net

JVC’s High-End EXAD-Series KD-NX5000 Equipped with NAVTEQ Map Data and NAVTEQ Traffic

NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, announced today that it has been selected to provide JVC, a premier manufacturer of consumer electronics, with NAVTEQ map data and NAVTEQ Traffic for JVC’s latest after-market navigation product, the EXAD-series KD-NX5000. The KD-NX5000 is a 1-DIN HDD-navigation DVD/CD receiver with a built-in 3.5-inch-wide monitor, providing customers with multiple navigation and entertainment options. 

Features see here

Each KD-NX5000 navigation system comes equipped with NAVTEQ’s high quality, detailed map coverage of the U.S., Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Users also have access to NAVTEQ’s comprehensive Points of Interest (POI) database with more than 12 million POIs, including restaurants, hotels, airports, gas stations, ATMS and other destinations.

To further enhance the driving experience, the KD-NX5000 also comes with a built-in RDS-TMC traffic tuner — powered by NAVTEQ Traffic — to receive real-time traffic information. NAVTEQ Traffic accident and construction information is available in the top 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada, and speed and flow information is now available in 49 cities. Users who choose to subscribe can receive real-time information on traffic jams, accidents, road narrowings and more, allowing drivers to see traffic delays and avoid potential traffic problems. NAVTEQ Traffic RDS is provided free to users for 90 days, after which time consumers can subscribe to the service directly through NAVTEQ at  JVC Traffic Activation

Customers can learn more about this exciting new product at JVC Mobile 

Source: NAVTEQ press release