Input from Global GPS Community Helps Create New Geometry in Multiple European Countries, Enhances Maps of Asia Pacific Region, Sets New Standard for Map Accuracy

Tele Atlas unveiled the latest version of its database, MultiNet® 2009.12. For the first time, MultiNet now includes changes from drivers in the Asia Pacific region, as well as nearly 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) of new or adjusted geometry across Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. MultiNet also sets the new standard for map accuracy, with community input now helping Tele Atlas to detect changes and perfect its maps worldwide to the highest industry standard of five meters or 16 feet or less.

MultiNet encompasses nearly 32 million kilometers (20 million miles) across 94 countries and territories. It is the only digital map database in the world that is constantly validated by the tens of millions of drivers who use it in GPS devices, smartphone applications and online. To date, Tele Atlas has validated and processed well over one million edits sourced from this group of users, the largest GPS data collection community in the world. The latest release of the database includes edits across 16 attributes and features that changed crossings into roundabouts, added or adjusted street names, and adjusted traffic flow. Tele Atlas also leveraged anonymous GPS measurements in combination with other sources and processes to validate and realign or extend the world’s road network.

To update its maps, Tele Atlas captures and verifies changes from a comprehensive network of global sources, ranging from government documents and public safety officials to construction companies and truck drivers, as well as satellite and aerial imagery. By validating and adding contributions from individual drivers as an additional source, Tele Atlas is able to increase the total number of changes identified by its network, particularly in geographically dispersed and rural areas covered less frequently by other data sources. This community input is backed by stringent review and validation processes and further enables Tele Atlas to create fresher, higher quality maps and deliver a better experience for end users of its maps. Recent quality tests show Tele Atlas maps of the United States, Canada and Mexico rate highest in terms of quality and reliability, and in certain markets are up to 10% more accurate than other maps. Tele Atlas quality testing uses a process certified by the TÜV SÜD, a leading global testing and inspection organization with 14,000 experts providing consulting, testing, certification and training services at more than 600 locations in Europe, North America and Asia.

Kenneth Karlberg, President and Head of Mobility Services, TeliaSonera says: ”We are very proud to be the first operator in the world to offer our customers 4G services. Thanks to the successful cooperation with Ericsson we can offer 4G to our customers in Stockholm earlier than originally planned.”

LTE, the next generation of mobile communication technology, is designed for transferring huge amounts of data in a most cost and energy efficient way, optimizing the use of frequency band and realizing fiber-like access speed over the air. With decreased latency, consumers can now enjoy whatever service is available online – high definition (HD) video, network games, you name it – effortlessly and on the move.

Downtown Stockholm is now covered by the Ericsson LTE network, making it the largest LTE deployment to date. TeliaSonera’s subscribers are the first to have access to the LTE service by commercially available Samsung LTE dongles.

Ericsson has completed commercialization of its LTE products, and larger-scale production is ready for further deployment. Interoperability has been tested thoroughly with many different devices in different.

Berg Insight anticipates that 2010 will be a positive year for the global wireless M2M market with hardware shipments returning to growth and a continued increase in the number of network connections. New M2M initiatives launched by major mobile operator groups are expected to have a positive influence on demand, stimulating new large-scale projects. Regulatory developments are predicted to have a major impact on the telematics industry. The EU is expected to propose formal legislation for the introduction of eCall by 2014 but in Brazil the fate of Resolution 245 is more uncertain. Another significant development to watch will be the progress of the Dutch government’s plans to introduce a nationwide electronic road charging system for all motor vehicles.

Forrester has published a report about the mobile strategy for travel firms.

Read more here.

Drivers can access a list of nearby hotels in Europe* and then check availability, compare costs and research facilities. All the hotels a customer could want are included in the partnership ranging from independent hotels to the big name chains.  To make a booking, drivers just ring the Expedia customer support centre for the price of a local call. There’s no reservation fee, and they are guaranteed to get a great value room rate at thousands of hotels across Europe.

“The service makes it quick and easy for drivers to find a hotel when they’re on the road, saving them time and money too”, says Alain Pakiry, Senior VP Marketing at TomTom. “We were keen to find a partner who could give us access to a vast range of accommodation and provide the level of support our customers expect. Expedia was the obvious choice.”

Cameron Jones, Business Development Director EMEA for Expedia Affiliate Network adds, “This unique solution truly benefits TomTom users, giving them booking access to thousands of properties and the best value prices through Expedia. We look forward to being able to develop the solution further in the future and extending it to a global audience.”

To celebrate the launch of the service, TomTom is sending its email newsletter subscribers a voucher code entitling them to an additional 10% discount on their first hotel booking.

Two things are interesting about this round — Tonchidot becomes the second of several augmented reality startups to raise a venture-backed round this year. It’s a decent size for a first round and four times what Dutch competitor Layar raised this fall. Although a number of startups have launched products this year on the iPhone and Android-based phones, few venture capital firms had gotten their feet wet in the space. That seems to be changing now.

The second thing to note is that Tonchidot sounds like it will take a very different route to monetization than all of its competitors. It will use its augmented reality browser for more game play. Other competitors like Layar and Wikitude will take the advertising route, letting businesses pay for augmented reality tags or ads or sponsor layers in the browser that point to nearby places like fast-food locations or coffee shops.

Like many other mobile technologies, augmented reality will probably evolve very differently in Japan. Users can tag locations with data and comments in the browser that other people can pick up later if they use Sekai Camera in the same place. Ken Inoue, Tonchidot’s CFO, suggests that there might be special virtual goods that users can leave in different places for a fee.

“We think augmented reality provides a really interesting user interface, and a place to combine social interaction, marketing and content creation,” said Osuke Honda, a principal at DCM. Specifically, Honda says Tonchidot’s technology could be used to stage game play in the real world. For example, you could have robots battle each other through your phone on a real physical location like a playing field. Or it could be used in cosplay, a type of performance art popular in China and Japan where people wear elaborate costumes.

Source; venturebeat.com

Navteq has been a provider of map data to Microsoft for the past 10 years. With this new relationship, Navteq will help advance important 3D collection technologies which, when integrated into Navteq’s broader proprietary data collection process, will support the capture of a range of advanced navigable map features at an exceptional level of accuracy and scale, the company said.

Navteq will be integrating these new technologies into its field collection vehicles, and customers will be able to benefit from this technology deployment. This will accelerate not only the efficient integration of 3D visuals into the Navteq map, but also new product development, Navteq said. Microsoft will be able to deploy the visuals generated through these efforts to their consumers via Bing Maps.

As the cost and availability of data connections is sometimes limited, relevant maps are included on the device to ensure that even if there is no access to an internet connection, the device can still be used.

The application resides completely on the phone and does NOT require GPRS data connection or cellular network to operate. Hence, there are no hidden or recurring charges for using this application. MapmyIndia Sygic Mobile Maps works seamlessly across the popular and latest GPS phones running Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android and the iPhone.

MapmyIndia Sygic Mobile Maps allow users to search any location across India, and navigate to it, getting turn-by-turn voice and map instructions right till their destination.

In the near future, MapmyIndia Sygic Mobile Maps will be available for sale through MapmyIndia’s national distribution network across telecom and IT shops, as well as via Sygic web site e-shop.

With this release, customers can explore 401 cities across India with street-level turn-by-turn directions and information on POIs, as well as national, state or district highways. In addition to navigation maps, MapmyIndia offers India’s largest information set on points of interest like budget/premium hotels, petrol pumps, eating joints, ATMs, hospitals as well as tourist and religious spots.

In addition to navigating to these destinations, the interface also allows users to put up POI alerts. Users can ask the application to alert them of POIs along their route that they would like to stop at – an extremely useful feature when you want to figure out where the next ATM or petrol pump is while driving. Users can store locations as favorites, add multiple destinations and plan routes between these.
A unique feature that will delight iPhone users of MapmyIndia Sygic mobile maps is the ability to navigate to their phonebook i.e. navigate to addresses stored for people on their contact lists. Store the street address for your friends, and you can just choose the contact name to get turn-by-turn directions to their location.

Through the agreement, GPS Tuner Atlas leverages Tele Atlas’ digital maps for Europe and North America to provide high quality navigation for outdoor enthusiasts ranging from geo-catchers to golfers, cyclists and runners. “More and more mobile consumers want location information that enhances their lifestyles and leisure activities, ” said Filip Neirynck, Vice President of Consumer Markets, Tele Atlas. “Working together with GPS Tuner and long-time industry partner DigitalGlobe, we are pleased to extend our portfolio with a powerful, visually compelling off-road navigation solution.”

GPS Tuner Atlas is the latest generation of off-road navigation software developed by GPS Tuner. The new software is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices. GPS Tuner Atlas is available via Pocketland, Handango and through other popular on-line distributors. The solution is expected to be available in Western Europe, North America and Asia embedded in specific outdoor devices in 2010.