FindCall GPS Navigation Cell Phone Tracking Blog

Wayfinder Debuts Mobile Software for Outdoor Enthusiasts

findcall — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 08:11:04 +0000

Swedish navigation software maker Wayfinder unveiled its free Wayfinder Active software this week, which is a GPS tracking and logging application for mobile phones.

Wayfinder Active is a Java application that records detailed statistics including maximum, current and average speed; distance; calories burned; altitude info; and current location, according to the company. It also incorporates an emergency function whereby users can send a text message with their position to a preferred contact within the phone’s address book; in certain countries a text message is sent immediately to national rescue services.

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Web Site Integrates Downloadable Info with Where2 GPS Device

findcall — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:45:11 +0000

To help business travelers make their journeys less stressful and maybe even entertaining, Avis Rent A Car System, LLC today launched a new service at www.avis.com/mywhere2 to connect its customers with information on concerts, sporting events, museums, galleries, festivals and other popular activities at 25 major business travel destinations in the United States.

Avis customers who rent Where2, the company’s portable GPS navigation system, can also save destination information found at myWhere2.com or anywhere else on the Web onto a Secure Digital (SD) memory card that can be transferred into the Where2 unit when they pick up their rental vehicle. To use this feature, customers must first download a plug-in available at www.avis.com/mywhere2 and create a bookmark to send addresses of places they want to visit to their personal SD card. When finished, customers can use any Web site or tool to find an address or point of interest and save the addresses directly to their SD memory card, and thus quickly and conveniently program their GPS unit to be able to maximize their free time.

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TeleNav’s Whereboutz™ connects Facebook friends

findcall — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:13:54 +0000

Whereboutz enables users to input where they are and what they’re doing. An interactive map shows members where their friends are as well as any comments in terms of what they’re up to.

The user’s location can be as vague as a country, or as detailed as a street address.

Friends can send each other a “nudge”, which generates a text message to let a user know that someone is looking for him.

The application also includes a local search function that allows members to look up businesses nearby so they can suggest places to meet.

Locations and comments can also be posted directly from a cell-phone.

Whereboutz operates under the same privacy controls and protections as all Facebook applications, giving members full control over how much information is shared and who sees it.

Nav N Go Unveils First ‘True’ 3D Navigation Software

findcall — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:19:31 +0000

Company Will Also Announce Partners for the U.S. Market

After gaining success in Europe, Nav N Go, the fastest growing GPS navigation solution provider, is now ready to launch North America’s first lifelike 3D navigation software ’Nav N Go iGO8’ at CES Las Vegas 2008. To ensure this technology is swiftly available to customers, the company has formed partnerships with leading hardware manufacturers, also to be announced at the show.

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Microsoft acquires Multimap

findcall — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:54:15 +0000

The acquisition gives Microsoft a powerful new location and mapping technology to complement Virtual Earth, Live Search, Windows Live services, MSN and the aQuantive advertising platform, with future integration potential for a range of other Microsoft products and platforms.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Multimap will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, as part of the Virtual Earth and Search teams in the Online Services Group.

This acquisition is the latest in a series of moves as Microsoft seeks to expand its online services.

Real-Time Traffic Information Will Become Key Feature for Navigation

findcall — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 08:22:19 +0000

With basic navigation devices and services becoming commonplace in the industrialized world, driven by the rapid growth of GPS adoption, the next frontier is a richer variety of location-aware content. The first prominent example of such dynamic content is real-time traffic information, which will be further enhanced by the addition of historical and predictive traffic data to assist drivers in determining the best route. According to a new study from ABI Research, these traffic information services will reach more than 83 million paid or registered users worldwide by 2012.

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TomTom Partners with Google Maps on Business Searches

findcall — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:14:23 +0000

PND maker TomTom said today that it’s teaming up with Google Maps, so users can search for and send business addresses directly from Google Maps to TomTom devices.

"The ability to search, find and send information from the web to a TomTom is something we have been investing in for some time now. We are pleased to work together with Google Maps on this personalization functionality," said Eric Pité, TomTom vice president for product management. "This cooperation represents a major step for TomTom in meeting the growing demands of our customers for personalized content for their TomTom devices."

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Explosive Growth Expected in Real-Time Two-Way Connected Navigation

findcall — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:43:15 +0000

Within the broad category of Connected Navigation are devices ABI Research has termed RTTW (Real-Time Two-Way) Connected Navigation. Unlike other forms of connected navigation which can include wired connections and one-way data receivers, Real-Time Two-Way connectivity opens a new dimension of service possibilities for navigation devices.

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Nuance Adds Voice to Latest TomTom GO Portable Navigation Devices

findcall — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:47:40 +0000

Nuance Communications is leveraging the power of voice to control everyday devices, including the newest versions of TomTom’s award-winning GO portable navigation devices. Most existing navigation systems can be difficult to use while driving as the driver either has to stop the vehicle to manually input the destination or have a passenger enter the information. With voice destination entry from Nuance, drivers using the newest TomTom devices can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road and simply speak their destination.

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Forget PNDs – PNS is where it’s at

findcall — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:52:35 +0000

With a turbulent year of acquisitions, fierce PND competition and substantial movements from web moguls Google and Yahoo!, 2007 heralds a paradigm shift in personalized service offerings for navigation and LBS providers.

Industry players need to take notice. Demands to provide personalised services for consumers have fuelled the need for companies to realign their navigation offerings and business models. In a recent article, Telematics Update’s Abbie Badcock caught up with some industry analysts and navigation providers as they outline what delivery strategies will be best placed to propel navigation to next generation status.

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