Summer 2006

Telmap is stepping up its mission to persuade consumers and businesses that that satellite navigation should be regarded as a standard offering on mobile phones. It is pre-installing its Telmap Navigator mobile navigation software on the new Nokia Eseries phones in the UK, and is allowing users a free trial of the system before they have to pay.

Initially its Navigator system will come pre-installed on Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70 smartphones sold in the UK.

The system offers full-featured Europe-wide mobile navigation and mapping, including in-car and pedestrian navigation, mapping, points of interest and "rich content".

The solution is based on Telmap's patented MOND (Mobile Optimized Navigation Data) technology, which downloads sufficient mapping and related data to save the user from having to keep logging on to download parts of a planned route.

 

Telmap is also developing a Web shop, where users will be able to pay online to subscribe to its navigation services. When we closed for press it was still under construction, and linked users through to the main Web site.

... and for BT's Blackberry

BlackBerry mobile email units supplied through BT (News, page 10) can now be equipped for satellite navigation through the addition of a tiny, lightweight add-on hardware module. It provides both visual and voice-prompt turn-by-turn directions.

The system is of the server-based on-air variety. It uses Navteq digital maps on the server to create maps to the user's selected destination, which are then downloaded to the BlackBerry handheld. BT is presenting this as a virtue, pointing out that it avoids memory overload problems on the unit, and ensures that the latest mapping is used.

To kick-start take-up, BT is offering free rental for a trial period for users of its BlackBerry 8700 unit. The trial runs for three months on a one-year contract or six months on a two-year contract.