MapQuest Launches New Mobile Offering

location based services

LAS VEGAS, NV, April 4, 2006 - As part of MapQuest's ongoing commitment to make maps and directions available on mobile devices, the Company today announced two new products, MapQuest Navigator and Web based mobile services, making it easier for consumers to find their destinations. MapQuest is the leading mapping destination on the Web* serving upwards of 40 million individuals and thousands of businesses with software solutions. MapQuest, a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, joins its parent company in its commitment to bring its most popular content and services to mobile users everywhere.

MapQuest(r) Navigator, in partnership with Telmap, will soon enable consumers to access Global Positioning Service (GPS), turn-by-turn, voice-guided directions on mobile phones. The MapQuest Navigator service represents leading-edge technology in online navigation and gives consumers a powerful new level of convenience that's available when they need it most.

Based on the next generation technology 'MOND' Mobile Optimized Navigation Data, from Telmap, a world-leading provider of mobile mapping and navigation solutions MapQuest Navigator displays dynamic, full-color maps and provides accurate turn-by-turn navigation instructions by voice, graphics and text.

The system includes a database of millions of restaurants, hotels, theaters and other points of interest which consumers can navigate to, direct dial to make reservations or send any location to a friend via text message.

MapQuest also announced that it is making it easier for consumers with Web-enabled mobile phones to access MapQuest.com. Available now, the free Web service is specifically designed and formatted for mobile phones and provides a convenient way for anyone with a Web-enabled phone to access interactive maps, get driving directions and find places. The service is based on technology from InfoGin Ltd., a leading pioneer of Web to mobile content adaptation solutions. Consumers can access this service on their mobile phones by going to http://wap.mapquest.com.

"MapQuest Navigator and Web-enabled services provide consumers with some of the most powerful and convenient solutions for finding places while they are mobile," said Jim Greiner, VP and GM of MapQuest. "We're giving consumers the ability to find any place and get there whenever and wherever they need it most - while they are on the go."

"We believe that Telmap's unmatched mobile navigation technology together with a highly recognized brand like MapQuest creates the perfect offering for the current US market, and suits the American consumers' needs in the best way, " said Oren Nissim, CEO of Telmap.

The MapQuest Navigator mobile offering Includes:
MapQuest Navigator will provide clear, easy-to-follow directions to a location either from a selected starting point or from the consumer's current location, using GPS technology. Other features will include:

• Audible turn-by-turn directions, using GPS, right on your phone;
• Allows users to enjoy the navigation experience while making and receiving phone calls;
• Millions of points of interest to explore with the same quality and relevance offered on MapQuest.com;
• Optimized routing calculation to find the fastest or shortest route, or to avoid toll roads, highways or other specific elements;
• Full pedestrian navigation that ignores vehicle turning and one-way driving restrictions;
• Print-quality dynamic color maps with zoom-in/out, pan and point on map functionality;
• Intuitive location search for address, intersection or zip code, including unique "point of interest" search capabilities;
• Automatic re-routing without the need to contact the server;
• Support for BREW, Java, BlackBerry, Windows mobile and Symbian.

MapQuest expects the MapQuest Navigator service will be available through major U.S. wireless carriers later this year.

To get more information, go to http://www.mapquest.com/mobile.

Visit MapQuest and Telmap at CTIA Wireless 2006 in Las Vegas:
To see demonstrations of these services, visit MapQuest at the CTIA Wireless 2006 event, North Hall, Booth #4224 or Telmap at Booth #4342.

About MapQuest
MapQuest helps people find places. MapQuest offers Internet, mobile, business solutions, and published products worldwide. MapQuest.com, both the top mapping and directories site on the Web according to comScore Media Metrix, served more than 40 million users in February, 2006. MapQuest, a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, is based in Denver, Colorado.

About AOL LLC
AOL LLC and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Web brands include the AOL.com(r) website, AIM(r), MapQuest(r) and Netscape(r).

AOL offers a range of digital services in the areas of education, safety and security, communications and music. The company also has operations in Europe and Canada. AOL, which is based in Dulles, Virginia, is a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.

About Telmap
Telmap is a leading technology provider of a wide range of innovative applications designed for the mobile mapping arena. Founded in 2000, with HQ in Israel and offices in the US, the UK and Finland, Telmap's mobile mapping applications provide global geographic coverage for the cellular and automotive world. The company's worldwide base of customers and partners includes leading cellular operators and handset manufacturers. Telmap prides itself as the creator of some of the most progressive Mapping and Navigation solutions. Over the past six years, it has been enhancing its client/server technology for mapping, content access, routing and navigation. The result is the Telmap Navigator- a unique and highly advanced solution based on the Andromeda(tm) Mapping and Navigation platform. Telmap's technology leadership has been recognized by numerous industry groups. Recent awards include being named a "2006 Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum, winning the Red Herring 100 Europe award in 2005, and winning the 'Best Maps' award in the Directions Magazine/ Microsoft Corporation 2004 Web Mapping Contest.




Search WirelessDevNet for Related Items

Search Google for Related Stories