Three Award Winning Solutions Showcased
at 2004 Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association's
(CTIA) Wireless Expo in Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL – March 24, 2004 - NAVTEQ, a leading
global provider of digital maps for in-vehicle navigation,
Internet / wireless, government and business solutions,
awarded the winners of the Wireless LBS Challenge during
an official award ceremony that took place yesterday,
March 23, at the 2004 CTIA Wireless Expo. The grand-prize
winner, Networks In Motion, received $100,000 worth
of NAVTEQ™ Map licenses for up to one year and
an advertising package from Mobile Media valued at $20,000.
Second runners-up, Quarterscope Solutions™ and
ULocate™, received extended development and demonstration
rights to further their product development efforts.
Networks In Motion was awarded the grand-prize for
its AtlasBook™ Places solution. AtlasBook Places
provides turn-by-turn directions and maps to users of
portable wireless devices. Via the AtlasBook web site,
users can also plan trips, integrating places, phone
numbers and other relevant location information into
a personalized trip itinerary.
The runners-up, Quarterscope Solutions and ULocate,
also demonstrated compelling solutions. Quaterscope
Solutions’ Wi-Fi Positioning System™ provides
Wi-Fi location readings within a 20 meter radius including
interactive driving directions, child tracking and local
web services. ULocate™ offers subscribers the
ability to view location information of family members
and employees on a 24/7 basis.
Sponsored by NAVTEQ and SiRF Technology, Inc., the
2004 Wireless LBS Challenge was the first initiative
of its kind aimed at igniting the location-based services
(LBS) industry. It challenged application developers
to build innovative LBS solutions that work with cell
phones or wireless handheld devices using global positioning
satellite (GPS) technology and NAVTEQ maps. Nine semi-final
solutions were identified and selected based on the
following criteria: applicability, functionality, design,
and solution overview. Executives from wireless carriers,
hardware and device manufacturers and other industry
organizations served as the official judges and completed
the judging on Sunday, March 21 while on site at CTIA.
The judges based their final decision on two criteria:
usability and utility.
"We are constantly looking for new ways to create
value for our customers. The Wireless LBS Challenge
has not only brought to the forefront a variety of potentially
viable commercial solutions but it has also brought
to life the true power and scope of the LBS industry,"
commented Susan Schedel, Director of Carrier Relations
for Qualcomm. "By integrating technology such as
our QPOINT solution and initiatives like the Wireless
LBS Challenge, the stage is set for the widest possible
range of location-based services."
In an effort to broaden the scope of this successful
initiative, NAVTEQ will launch the 2005 Global Wireless
LBS Challenge, targeting developers in North America
and other countries across the world. More information
regarding the 2005 Global Wireless LBS Challenge will
be available later this summer.
"The first Wireless LBS Challenge has received
a very positive reaction from developers and industry
experts," commented Winston Guillory, Senior Vice
President – North American Sales. "NAVTEQ
will continue to build on the success of this initiative
in 2005 with the debut of the 2005 Global Wireless LBS
Challenge."
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that
powers navigation and location-based services around
the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in
1985 and is privately held. The company's approximately
1,400 employees are in over 100 offices in 18 countries.
For more information, visit http://www.navteq.com/.
For more information, send e-mail to laura.richey@navteq.com.
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