TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0

location based services

TeleNav introduced TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, the first GPS application on mobile phones that provides US consumers with full-color three dimensional (3D) moving maps, creating a more realistic and easy-to-follow visual navigation experience. Sounds interesting. I expect that the market for mobile phone GPS units will heat up as occasional use items when trying to navigate. This will most likely be a point of market entry for people getting into navigation. Eventually serious users will want/need to move up to something with a bit more horsepower like a stand alone GPS system.
The updated version of TeleNav GPS Navigator is also the first mobile navigation service to include a Wi-Fi Hotspot finder. Customers can now quickly find and get turn-by-turn directions to wireless hotspots across the US. With TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, customers can also search "along-the-route" (ATR), enabling them to look up a business, place of interest and even the lowest gas prices along their predetermined routes. TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0 also offers an address input method with the least amount of keystrokes in the industry. The application detects and auto-fills addresses based on current or commonly used locations, as well as corrective entry, which automatically revises information the user may have misspelled.
"Our mission with TeleNav GPS Navigator is to provide drivers with mobile navigation tools that are effective, convenient and effortless to use," said HP Jin, president and CEO at TeleNav. "The features we have launched today simplify, yet enhance, the experience, making it as easy as possible for drivers to experience safe and stress-free travel."
Other features of TeleNav GPS Navigator include:
— Voice and visual directions — Enter or call in your destination and TeleNav GPS Navigator computes your route. As you drive, you get up-to-the minute guidance and will automatically be re-routed if you miss a turn. Users can also preview their routes before they begin driving and specify preferences, including highways and streets.
— Full-Color moving maps (available on select phones) — See colorful maps of specific GPS locations and pan and zoom the map to view the surrounding streets.
— Business Finder — Find businesses and services, including Wi-Fi hotspots, ATMs, restaurants, hotels and gas stations, and easily navigate to them with the click of a button. Business Finder also allows users to quickly look up and call the phone number for a business.
— Fuel Finder — Save money by finding the lowest gas prices within a five-mile or wider radius.
— Parking Spot Marker — Easily find your car wherever you park it, such as in a large parking lot or on an unfamiliar downtown street.
— My Favorites — Save as many addresses as you want for easy access later.
— Language Preference — Choose English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Cantonese, Vietnamese, French or Portuguese.
TeleNav GPS Navigator, originally launched in 2003, is available for a fraction of the price of in-car navigation systems and dedicated personal navigation devices (PNDs). The service starts at just $9.99 per month for unlimited use, and TeleNav GPS Navigator customers are not charged cellular airtime minutes for using the service.
"TeleNav is an early leader in the mobile GPS navigation market, and the company continues its leadership by driving innovation in the LBS sector," said Marina Amoroso, wireless analyst at the Yankee Group. "With the launch of TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, TeleNav has expanded its list of compelling features to rival that of other GPS-navigation devices."
Market research firm ABI has predicted that the global GPS market will grow to more than $22 billion by 2008. The firm estimates that handset navigation and people tracking markets will experience the largest growth rates, significantly outpacing the overall market growth of 12 percent through 2008.
Similarly, research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that the number of GPS devices sold worldwide — including personal navigation units and applications built into cell phones and handheld computers — will grow from 18 million last year to 88 million in 2010.
The latest version of TeleNav GPS Navigator is currently available on select mobile devices.