Speech-based navigation systems, which some observers felt might be eclipsed by the growth of graphical map-based systems, are being given a boost with the emergence of Motorola's VIAMOTO solution. This gives users the ability to receive spoken turn-by-turn directions to their destinations on Motorola mobile handsets.

Meanwhile, Motorola in turn is providing routing engine technology to Trafficmaster, whose Smartnav in-cab navigation system already uses spoken instructions.

Lately Motorola has signed a deal with Telcontar, the US-based specialist in LBS (location-based services), which is providing Motorola with its Rich Map Engine technology.

Telcontar says that its technology enhances routing performance and ensures that the map and points of interest data are current. Moreover, the client-server wireless architecture permits future integration of real-time data feeds such as traffic or weather - an approach which dovetails well with the Trafficmaster proposition.

 

In the VIAMOTO system, handsets can monitor their own location and progress on the selected route, and can therefore be disconnected automatically, minimising airtime charges and the risk of disruption due to a lost connection.