|
Image Source: ORANGE
SAT NAV
|
28th November 2006 - Orange Business Services launched
a new GPS navigation application to be downloaded on
to a range of mobile devices - including smartphones
and PDAs from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, BlackBerry™
and Orange - providing its business customers with a
real-time, cost effective solution.
Powered by Webraska, a leading provider of GPS navigation
solutions, Sat-Nav from Orange can be used when walking,
cycling or driving. Rather than having a specific device
just for this application, Sat-Nav from Orange works
on a range of mobile devices making it a cost effective
business investment. All maps and live traffic updates
are held on a central server and are downloadable from
the internet via Wifi, 3G, GPRS or the Orange EDGE network
onto the mobile device. This saves precious memory space
and ensures that maps and points of interest are always
up to date.
Sat-Nav allows users to save time, fuel and money by
working out the most efficient route to a destination.
According to navigational analyst Canalys "The
mobile GPS navigation market is doubling year on year
in EMEA. By the end of the year 14 million Sat Nav units
will have been sold in the UK of which around 1 million
will be on smartphone devices." Sat-Nav on mobile
devices means that users are free from the constraints
of having a fixed device. Users can switch modes of
transports, whether it is pool, hire or their own cars
and can even get directions when walking.
|
"Using Sat-Nav on your mobile means businesses can save
time and money. It is easy to use and enables businesses to
streamline the number of devices they have to purchase and
manage" said Gareth Williams, Group Manager Solution
Products, Orange Business Services. "The location based
service market is currently around £55m and estimated
to double by 2009 according to the Yankee Group. Orange is
well placed to capitalise on this opportunity through our
brand, channel reach, customer service and understanding of
how applications work in a mobile environment."
The application is quick and easy to install on a number
of mobile devices and once installed, it is easy to download
routes. The detailed maps from NAVTEQ are stored on Webraska's
servers and hold information on hotels, restaurants, parking
and other useful points of interest as well as speed cameras
and live traffic information. The maps are updated every three
months and therefore more up to date than standard Sat-Nav
devices for which users need to buy new maps on an annual
basis.
Once each route has been downloaded, Sat-Nav from Orange
provides GPS-triggered real-time, turn by turn voice instructions,
clear maps with road names and pictograms of turns, which
provide accurate directions, even in the most built up areas.
Favourite routes can be saved to mobile devices. The real-time
road traffic information allows routes to be optimised according
to traffic conditions and enables automatic re-routing should
traffic conditions become challenging.
Jean-Michel Durocher, Founder and EVP of Webraska, said "Working
together, Webraska and Orange have produced an application
that can help you get to wherever you need to be, by the best
possible route, whether you are in your car, walking or on
a bike. It offers all the benefits of a traditional Sat-Nav
unit with real-time access to new maps and the latest information
whilst eliminating the need for expensive and bulky hardware
equipment."
Pricing & Availability
Sat Nav from Orange is priced at £150 excluding VAT.
This includes the software license, a GPS receiver with in-car
charger and a car windshield or fan grid for the mobile device.
The download of journey routes will be charged at standard
pay as you use data rates.
Real time traffic information is available for an additional
annual charge of £27.59 excluding VAT. Maps for all
of Europe are also available for an additional annual charge
of £27.59 excluding VAT.
Sat Nav from Orange is available on a wide range of devices
and five different operating systems . In terms of coverage
the application includes mapping for the UK, Ireland, Belgium,
Luxembourg and The Netherlands as standard, and easily extended
to all of Europe. Service and availability are subject to
terms and conditions. Further details can be viewed at www.orange.co.uk/business/satnav
and the application is also available from Orange's SME applications
showcase - an online portal that delivers easy-to-use business
tools for small business customers to help them manage every
element of their business - for further details visit www.orange-applications.com.
Back to
News Reports
|
