NAVTEQ To Crowdsource Points of Interest (POI) Database

location based services

So while TeleAtlas is crowdsourcing their map development to some extent, NAVTEQ is getting distributed development of their Points of Interest database. They announced that they are going to have retailers like Starbucks, Walgreens and Outback Steakhouse directly access the POI database to keep things accurate and up to date. This is good news for people who use realtime updated search tools like ones available online, but for those of us who have portable navigation devices, it still means that the once per year update is going to be the slow way to get upgraded.... but at least it will be more accurate when it does get updated. Don't forget that the Dash Express GPS system will be updating this type of information in realtime via its two way onboard cellular system. (Dash is using TeleAtlas as a supplier though.)
More on the NAVTEQ press release below
NAVTEQ has announced a new service called NAVTEQ Direct Access™ that allows retailers to accurately and comprehensively include all their locations in the NAVTEQ® digital map used by millions of location-enabled consumers around the world every day. Navigation system users choose and route to high use retail Points of Interest such as restaurants, hotels, banks/ATM’s, gas stations and stores in their system. By working directly with NAVTEQ, participating merchants now enjoy a global, cost effective way of exposing all of their retail locations - even recently opened and newly acquired ones - in the most widely used digital map.NAVTEQ Direct Access offers new customer reach possibilities by leveraging the digital map to reach today’s mobile consumer. Unlike other media types, NAVTEQ Direct Access gives visibility to location information on demand when the consumer is at the decision-making point. Because the map is always in its user’s navigation system regardless of where they go, mobile consumers will always have the participating merchants’ locations with them.
The new service enhances the consumer experience, regardless of their relationship with the participating merchants. Loyal customers interested in finding a particular company’s locations will have a comprehensive listing wherever they go. Prospective consumers using proximity search capabilities en route will be better served by the most accurate geographic placement within the map. The updatable service enables changes to be made to a retail network such as entering new locations as soon as they are open, repositioning store locations to be more precise and removing locations on closing.
NAVTEQ Direct Access is an important enhancement to NAVTEQ’s customer commitment to providing high quality POI information that is accessible, accurate, up to date and correctly placed. “Leading retailers understand that larger numbers of location-enabled consumers using navigation systems are finding and buying from their locations” commented Mike Finn, Vice President, NAVTEQ Direct Access, “and that providing the latest location information via a leading digital map is an exciting new access channel”.
“Because NAVTEQ maps are the most broadly used across a range of location and navigation applications, keeping our locations up to date in one place allows us to reach the largest number of users. Today’s consumer is more comfortable using technology to find our retail locations, so accurate listings in a leading digital map is a natural” said Bob Rosenbarger, Director Advertising Services, Walgreens.
Leading companies already leveraging the growing mobile consumer target through NAVTEQ Direct Access include Walgreens, Starbucks Coffee Company, Sofitel, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, Studio 6, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Roy’s, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Americas Best Value Inn by Vantage.