Garmin Signs LBS Deal With GyPSii

Personal Navigation Device (PND) maker Garmin has signed a multi-year deal with GyPSii, an Amsterdam-based provider of geo-location and mobile social networking services. The main purpose of the deal is assumed to be the inclusion of GyPSii's applications in Garmin's Nuvifone, the firms first consumer phone planned for later this year.

GyPSii's technology currently includes a range of location-specific functions such as mobile search, user generated content-sharing and social networking, sort of like Facebook for mobile phones. The firms' also plan to develop a friend finding application. The deal is non-exclusive, meaning GyPSii is free to sell its applications to other PND makers.

GyPSii currently runs on Symbian, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry devices, as well as the Apple iPhone, along with browser-based Internet connected devices.

Navteq CEO: Future of Mapping is Cell Phones

Navteq CEO Judson Green says he has seen the future of mapping and that future is on the cell phone. In a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Green said that the firm's merger with Nokia will enable it to enlist cell phone users to supplement Navteq's 1,000 mapping analysts:

Digital map-maker Navteq is preparing for a significant leap from portable GPS devices and automobile navigation systems to the cell phone, and it is joining with the world's largest handset manufacturer, Nokia Corp., to do it.

Navteq Chief Executive Judson Green sees the mobile phone as the key to expanding both Navteq's geographic reach and the breadth of information it can provide.

"We're excited about tapping into the Nokia community of consumers—of which there are close to a billion around the world—who can give us input as to what they find when they're traveling," Green told the Tribune in an interview. "We love the idea of having that consumer input funneled back to us because it allows us to make the map more accurate, to keep it fresh and to make it more interesting."

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"We're just beginning to see the wave of growth that will occupy the next several years," he said. "Ultimately, you will find maps on every phone and you'll find location-based content on every phone. … If our heritage was in the automotive sector and you think about a consumer behind the wheel, our future is with mobile consumers, or pedestrians."

Mr. Green told the Tribune that he wants Navteq get into dynamic content such as data on gas prices and parking. The firm will also be looking at subscription-based services as well as location based services that can be subsidized by advertising.

NAVTEQ Announces Winners of Asia-Pacific Global LBS Challenge

The Asia-Pacific Winners of NAVTEQ's Global LBS Challenge were announced today. The Grand Prize goes to Joikusoft for its JoikuSpot. JoikuSpot is a free location-aware mobile software solution that turns Nokia Smartphones into hotspots. Once installed on a phone, laptop, or internet tablet, the software establishes a wireless internet connections making the device its own hotspot. In addition to bragging rights, Joikusoft receives a prize package valued at $275,000, including $50,000 in cash.

The annual Global LBS Challenge, invites developers to build innovative location-enabled applications that work with mobile phones and/or wireless handheld devices using dynamic positioning technology and NAVTEQ map data.

(Picture courtesy Joikusoft)

GE to Add Mapping Software Firm to Utility Group

Corporate behemoth General Electric (GE) is expanding its “Smart Grid” Capabilities for utilities, with the announcement that its GE Energy unit will acquire MapFrame. Dallas-based MapFrame produces applications that allow utility company employees access to real-time information through its mobile mapping system called "FieldSmart." Bob Gilligan, general manager of GE Energy’s transmission and distribution business cited MapFrames software expertise and proven technology in announcing the deal.

FieldSmart is a combination of mobile mapping technology and field automation processes. The system is designed to interface with multiple office systems including the most popular GIS and CAD systems. The firm claims 35,000 users among the utility industry.

MapFrame’s employees will join GE’s transmission and distribution operations as part of the Smallworld business. Smallworld, which focus on GIS applications joined GE Energy in 2000. The deal is scheduled to close at the end of June.

Tele Atlas Announces New Digital Map Platform

Tele Atlas announced the release of a new digital map system today. Called MultiNav, the map platform has a smaller data footprint designed to to provide navigation application developers greater flexibility and reduce development time. The latest platform is compatible with the firm's existing digital map content with more localized content promised for later.

Tele Atlas cites three big enhancements of the new MultiNav platform:

• Optimized data structure to enable developers to compile data faster and more easily.
• Reduced data footprint to optimize device cost and efficiency.
• A single global data specification that incorporates a single global map solution.

Developers that have been using the new platform have reported that they have significantly reduced their data footprint. The firm says that the new digital map platform will allow maps of all available European countries to fit on an SD card with with less than 2 gigabytes of memory.

Tele Atlas provides digital maps and content of more than 200 countries for navigation and location-based services (LBS). Founded in 1984, the firm employes about 2,500 people in 24 countries.

More information on MultiNav can be found here.

New LBS Blog Launched

MetaCarta a provider of geographic search and referencing solutions announced that it has launched The MetaCarta Blog. The firm says the new blog will focus on how geography is adding a new dimension to the Internet to create the "geoweb."

MetaCarta says it will allow industry experts and visitors to air their views on topics such as geography, location intelligence, and how digital maps have already started to become a new user interface.

Claudine Bianchi, VP of marketing at MetaCarta says the industry is on the cusp on a major shift, citing consumer trends such as the popularity of mobile phones and GPS devices that are driving digital innovation on the Web. "The integration of maps and data is huge -- in fact, far bigger than anything we could comment on from a commercial perspective." she said.

Founded by a team of MIT researchers in 2001, MetaCarta products use a map interface to allow customers to visualize, and act on location-based information.

Future for GPS Chip Makers Uncertain

Manufacturers that pioneered the development of GPS chips for the civilian market face an uncertain future; one that may include merging or being bought by larger integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers according to a new report released today by ABI Research. "The market for GPS semiconductors has reached a plateau," according analyst Dominique Bonte. "All GPS chips offer similar performance. That tends to make market success primarily a matter of price, and of ease of integration with the host devices."

Another issue pressuring GPS chip makers is the growing trend towards combining GPS with other functions on a single chip. Integrating GPS with Bluetooth is all the rage these days. Wi-Fi is next on the list for integration.

The London-based market research firm says that these trends mean that that the very large semiconductor players will ultimately take the lead in the GPS market. Among the big players' advantages:

• Economies of scale that can reduce the cost of GPS-enabled ICs.
• Greater abilities to integrate multiple radio frequency technologies in a single unit.

ABI says we can expect to see firms like Broadcom, Atheros, NXP and Texas Instruments becoming more important in the GPS field. Among those facing an uncertain future are GPS-only chipset makers such as SiRF.

Garmin to Debut GPS Phone

GPS device maker Garmin Ltd. will soon unveil it own mobile phone the Taiwan Economic News reported today. Codenamed "Nuvifone" the smartphone will reportedly make its debut at a telecom fair scheduled for June 17 in Singapore. So far the world's largest GPS manufacturer has not confirmed this report.

More from the Economic News:

The phone is built with Ericsson`s 3.5-generation EMP chip solution and a unique operating software developed by Garmin itself.

Although Nokia, HTC and Asustek have added GPS to their phones, their phones do not have GPS interface on screen as Garmin`s, on which map location of the holder of the phone number pops up as soon as the phone user dials the number.

The report quotes unnamed people familiar with Garmin`s plan as stating that Garmin intended to sell the device at telecom carriers like AT&T instead of the retail stores where its other GPS devices are sold.

The move into mobile phones has been widely expected within the industry as sales of Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) have cooled. Garmin recently warned that it would have trouble achieving its goal of a 42% sales growth this year. For the first quarter, Garmin reported revenue of $663.8 million, an increase of 35%. However, net income was rose just 5.7%, the lowest in three years. The company`s stock has recently averaged about $47, down sharply from its high $125 last year.

EU Lauches Probe Into TomTom-Tele Atlas Deal

The European Union has opened a detailed probe of Dutch technology group TomTom's takeover of Dutch firm Tele Atlas, RTE' Business reported today, citing concerns the deal could stifle competition in the market for personal navigation devices:

The European Commission said it would rule by mid April whether to allow the €2.9 billion takeover of Tele Atlas, a leading maker of digital maps, by TomTom, which makes portable navigation devices.

The European Union's top competition watchdog said it had 'serious doubts' the deal would 'lead to a significant impediment to effective competition.'

MapQuest on Your PND

MapQuest, AOL's online mapping service announced today a new partnership with Telmap, that will provide turn-by-turn, voice-guided, directions to GPS-enabled Personal Navigation Devices.

This new version features Live Traffic, AOL CityGuide, which includes listings and ratings of restaurants and nightlife, gas prices near your location, and 3D Map Views. In the future, users will be able send maps and directions from their computer to their handheld device using the system.Users who sign up for the new version 5.0 between now and December 31, 2007 can system for $4.99 per month.

Personally, $60 a year for directions seems a bit high to me, especially since I can access the web with my Treo and get similar information for free. However, it might be worth it for those that travel by car a lot.

See also: Lower Cost to Drive Demand for Auto Navigation Systems
Free Maps for Your Cellphone

PND Market to Surpass 100 Million Units by 2011

Worldwide sales of Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) will continue their strong growth, reaching sales of more than 100 million units by 2011, according to the new report released by ABI Research. The New York-based research firm predicts that dedicated PNDs will continue to be preferred for use in the car. However, it says that in-car navigation systems will be complemented by handset-based systems for pedestrian navigation. The firm also says new devices such as portable media players, ultra mobile PCs, Internet tablets and mobile Internet devices will also integrate navigation systems into their applications.

The recent announcement that Nokia will acquire NAVTEQ has everyone talking about "convergence". Speaking of the involvement of cellular carriers with PNDs, ABI Research principal analyst Dominique Bonte predicts that sales of off-board handset-based navigation devices will grow strongly in North America, reaching a sales volume of 21 million units by 2012. "It will be a catalyst for the uptake of location-based services such as search, friend finder and tracking features” he said.

For future growth, ABI Research says PND manufacturers should look to China and India, saying that by 2012 more navigation systems will ship in Asia-Pacific than in any other region. Currently Europe is the leading navigation market.

Despite the growing market for PNDs, strong competition will continue as well as pressure to lower prices. This will result in a continued consolidation of the market. Manufacturers will likely seek to stand out in the fierce market, adding features such as speech technology, multimedia features and 3D map content.

Do Microsoft and Google Have Their Sights on TomTom?

Since the NAVTEQ purchase by Nokia was announced, speculation has been rampant that Microsoft would seek to acquire GPS Personal Navigation Device (PND) maker Garmin. However, iSuppli, a market intelligence firm, says the combined TomTom/Tele Atlas group is a more attractive target for Microsoft, and for Google as well.

Speaking of a suggested Microsoft buyout of Garmin, Richard Robinson, principal analyst, for iSuppli said, “iSuppli considers this to be less likely than Microsoft buying TomTom/Tele Atlas. This is because the key item in the supply chain is the map IP [intellectual property], rather than the navigation devices themselves.” The firm says the combined TomTom/Tele Atlas group is even more attractive to Google, citing the search engine company's strong desire to offer mobile location-based services.

With prices of GPS equipped PNDs falling, it seems that many people have realized that the true value is the map itself. "Holders of map Intellectual Property (IP) now occupy the most important position in the global GPS navigation supply chain." the report said, citing the $8 billion purchase of Navteq Corp. by Nokia as evidence. Tele Atlas, the other world-wide mapping firm agreed to be acquired by GPS maker TomTom earlier this year.

The entrance of these huge companies into the mapping field illustrates that the competitive structure of the navigation market has changed dramatically. The stakes are huge, iSuppli estimates that global shipments of GPS-enabled mobile handsets will reach 250 million units by 2010.

Currently, there are about 40 companies offering GPS navigation capabilities in various products. However, consider how many companies made PCs at one time. If past experience is a guide, and I believe it is, this number will likely be reduced to 3 or 4 major players over the next few years.

See also: Nokia to Purchase NAVTEQ
Nokia + NAVTEQ = Trouble for Garmin?
Lower Cost to Drive Demand for Auto Navigation Systems

Pioneer Looking Past GPS Navigation to the Future

Japanese electronics maker Pioneer is working on a new navigation system that combines a GPS system with a video camera and software that analyzes the scene ahead. Not only does the system provide better directions, it even warns the driver about potential hazards.

Called the Image Recognition Car Navigation System, the system was shown at the recently completed CEATEC Japan 2007 electronics show where it was named one of the 12 most innovative products at the show.

Instead of displaying a digital map, Pioneer’s prototype provides the driver live video of the road ahead with information superimposed. For example an arrow will appear to show the location of an upcoming turn is. It also warns the driver if he gets too close to the car ahead and even monitors the road lines to make sure the driver doesn't drift out of his lane.

Pioneer has not announced a release date for the system.

Nokia to Purchase NAVTEQ

Cellphone maker Nokia will purchase digital mapmaker NAVTEQ for $78 per share in cash, the firms announced today. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008 and is valued at approximately $7.7 billion, and has already been approved by the board of directors of each company. The deal values NAVTEQ shares at a 34% premium compared to one month ago.

Nokia is seeking to capitalize on the fast growing location-based services (LBS) market. With cell phone ownership reaching the saturation point in the U.S. and many industrialized countries, cell phone makers and service providers see LBS as a key way to continue growth and add additional income-producing services. “Location based services are one of the cornerstones of Nokia’s Internet services strategy. The acquisition of NAVTEQ is another step toward Nokia becoming a leading player in this space,” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Nokia's President and CEO.

Nokia is the world’s largest mobile device manufacturer with more than 900 million people using a Nokia mobile device around the world. NAVTEQ is a provider of digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, and other uses. NAVTEQ’s current map data business will continue operationally independent, but organizationally a Nokia Group company.

See also: Free Maps for Your Cellphone
Author Touts Navteq Stock

Ordnance Survey Launches Explore

Britain's Ordnance Survey announced today that it had launched a new map portal aimed at outdoor enthusiasts called "Explore". The site allows users to plan, plot and share routes and maps, attach their own photographs, highlight points of interest, and share routes with others, using Ordnance Survey's maps.

The site is geared towards hikers and runners says Bridget Kendrick, head of the team that developed the site. "We want to foster an environment where users can interact, share and create an online destination for all outdoor enthusiasts. Our aim is to offer everyone, from regular walkers to casual cyclists, a central hub from which to plan their day out, so that more and more people can enjoy the benefits of getting out and about in the great outdoors."

Lower Cost to Drive Demand for Auto Navigation Systems

Lower cost and a desire by auto makers to stand out in a crowded market will increase demand for GPS-equipped, factory installed navigation devices in North America. That is the conclusion of a new study released today by Research and Markets. "Strong growth in the North American automotive navigation systems market is primarily due to a reduction in the cost of navigation systems, aggressive marketing strategies adopted by automakers, and increasing consumer awareness," the market research firm concluded.

In 2006, only about 60% of the light vehicle models sold in North America offered navigation as an option. However, the Dublin-based research firm predicts that number will rise significantly in the future. As the cost of navigation devices has declined, automakers in North America increasingly see them as a cheap way to differentiate their models from competitors. Increasing consumer awareness of such devices also will play a role in the inclusion of the devices as standard equipment in more models.

Like almost all technologies, the cost is expected to continue to decline as economies of scale lower manufacturing costs. The report also forecast lower subscription fees for such features as real-time traffic. Research and Markets predicts that 79% of consumers will be willing to pay for real-time traffic information services.

At the same time, cellphone makers are scrambling to add location aware features to their devices as a way of selling additional services and build customer loyalty. So the first question is where will the public want their maps? In their car, or in their pocket?

The second question is what effect this will have on makers of stand alone devices such as Garmin and TomTom. Many consumers may find that with GPS navigation available both in the car and on their phone, they have no need for another.

Based in Dublin, Research and Markets has published over 80,000 publications on international and regional markets, key industries, companies, new products, and the latest trends.

See also:
So Long to Stand-Alone GPS Units?
Continued Growth in GPS Forecast

Sales of GPS "Gadgets" Replacing PNDs in Korea

GPS enabled mobile phones, PDAs and other electronics devices are increasingly popular in Korea, gaining market share at the expense of traditional, stand alone GPS devices. That is according to a report in the Korea Times:

``Monthly sales of products with GPS functions have increased by 15 percent this year. Especially, the growth is prominent in mobile phones and PDAs that are replacing traditional navigation systems,’’ said Mun Young-ku, IT manager of Auction, a major Internet shopping site.

The GPS navigation systems get signals from three satellites in earth orbit, and calculates a user’s position through trigonometry. To make it readily available to more drivers and ``digital nomads,’’ electronics makers are now offering navigation applications on phones and PDAs. The GPS phones are also a great help for cyclists and hikers as they can be carried at all times while walking or riding bicycles.

See also: So Long to Stand-Alone GPS Units?
Continued Growth in GPS Forecast
GPS Everywhere

Sprint to Offer Free GPS Navigation

Cellphone provider Sprint announced today that it will offer a GPS-enabled navigation service at no additional charge on some of its data plans. The new feature called "Sprint Navigation powered by TeleNav" will provide unlimited GPS navigation for customers that subscribed to the company's Power Vision plan, as well as two other data plans. Customers that use other data plans will be able to add the navigation package for $2.99 per day.

Some of the features the navigation service will include are voice-guided and on-screen turn-by-turn GPS-enabled driving directions; 3-D moving maps similar to what you see on a personal navigation device (PND); real-time traffic alerts; local search; and pre-trip planning. Customers that don't use a data plan eligible for the free service will be able to access Sprint Navigation for $2.99 per 24-hour period of use

The service is supposed to be available in April on most Power Vision phones. Making the service available for $2.99 a day seems like a smart move to me. I'm sure there's a lot of people that feel like they don't travel enough to invest in a PND, but would occasionally use the service.

See also: So Long to Stand-Alone GPS Units?
Free Maps for Your Cellphone

Privacy Concerns a Key Hurdle for Locaton Based Services

Most mobile phone users in the U.S. worry about privacy when it comes to next-generation telecommunications technologies a recent survey found. Harris Interactive polled 1,028 adults in the U.S. to determine public attitudes on location-based services (LBS). LBS uses GPS-enabled cell phones to target custom advertising and services to the user.

Harris found that about 1 in 4 mobile phone owners would like to be able to find out the availability of their contacts (available, busy on a call, unavailable). 18% would be very interested in the ability to determine the current location of persons on their contact list and 14% would like to be able to find out where their contacts had been recently. However, when those same respondents were asked how they would feel about other people having the same information about them, the majority said that such services would be an invasion of their privacy.

When asked how they would feel about people knowing their location, most people wanted to keep that in the family:

• 58% said that they would want their spouse to know where they were.
• 46% were okay with their children having access to the same information.
• 6% would want their co-workers to know where they were and
• 5% would want their employers to have access to their location

While often touted as the next big thing, LBS hasn't caught fire yet, Only 4% of those surveyed said that they would switch wireless carriers to have LBS features. Joe Porus a VP at Harris Interactive says that LBS will eventually catch on, "But providers must give users control over location-based features to allay privacy concerns." Not surprisingly, among the first groups expected to embrace LBS technology: teenagers.

The complete report is here.
See also: Location Technology One Of The Fastest Growing Sectors Of GPS Technology.

Free Maps for Your Cellphone

Finnish cell phone maker Nokia announced today that it is making its smart2go mapping and navigation platform available for free. Smart2go provides mapping and routing in over 150 countries and includes support for full turn-by-turn satellite navigation in over 30 countries.

Users can view where they are on a map, search for points-of-interests and create routes to get there free of charge. The firm says the mapping application will be available for free download beginning Saturday, February 10th.

Initially the mapping software will be available for selected Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. The firm says it plans to roll out support for most of the major mobile operating system platforms, including Nokia S60, Series 40, PocketPC, Linux and other Windows Mobile devices. The mapping and navigation application will come pre-installed on all future Nokia Nseries multimedia devices under the name "Nokia Maps".

As the world's largest manufacturer of cellphones, one wonders what effect Nokia's giving away its mapping and navigation applications will have on GPS manufacturers such as TomTom and Garmin.

See also:
Continued Growth in GPS Forecast
Mapping Firms Tout New Handheld Applications in Vegas
GPS Everywhere