By creating this unique forum for developers to gain exposure and access to industry
experts and decision makers, 6 previous LBS Challenge participants have received
venture capital funding and 8 past LBS Challenge winners have launched commercial
applications on major wireless carriers.
Former LBS Challenge Winner Launches Second Application on Major Wireless Carrier
CHICAGO, March 21 -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital
map data for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, announces the semifinalist
applications in the 2007 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge(R). The program is designed
to encourage application developers around the world to build innovative location-based
services (LBS) that work with mobile and wireless devices using dynamic positioning
technology and NAVTEQ(R) maps. NAVTEQ selected 16 applications in the Americas
region, out of over 340 companies registered for the LBS Challenge globally, to
continue on to a final judging round at CTIA Wireless 2007 based on each competitor's
commercial feasibility, functionality and design.
By creating this unique forum for developers to gain exposure and access to industry
experts and decision makers, 6 previous LBS Challenge participants have received
venture capital funding and 8 past LBS Challenge winners have launched commercial
applications on major wireless carriers, including Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
Smarter Agent(R), a former category winner and current semifinalist in the Global
LBS Challenge, recently launched APTS FOR RENT, a tool that gives customers the
power to view nearby apartments for rent on their mobile phone. Smarter Agent
has elegantly combined the powerful capabilities of location based services (LBS)
with real estate property information to provide users with instant data about
the world around them to deliver two commercially available applications.
"Through our participation in the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge, Smarter Agent
was given the opportunity to actively launch into new business ventures by exposing
our company to the right industry players at the right time. NAVTEQ jump-starts
relationships between LBS content providers, carriers and vendors," commented
Eric Blumberg, Smarter Agent President and Founder. "The exposure received since
winning has helped Smarter Agent gain widespread national media attention and
help Recently Sold Homes become a commercialized product, recently launched on
a major wireless carrier."
The following companies, and their respective LBS applications, have been selected
as semifinalists. These companies will advance to an official judging round at
CTIA Wireless in March (listed by category):
NAVIGATION CATEGORY
IOTO International Inc.'s LBS solution establishes a channel for selling transportation
services between points of interest (POI). Ranking transportation links and destination
according to user interest from a particular origin, IOTO offers customers wayfinding,
comparison, and convenience benefits.
ParkWhiz Inc.'s ParkWhiz Mobile uses location-based services to help consumers
find parking information (price, distance, hours, accessibility, reservations).
Ten23's SpotKast keeps phones updated with relevant information, allowing users
to skip download times, read web content, find POI, avoid traffic jams and spot
friends through one easy-to-use interface.
Zeetoo's Car Finder guarantees that users will never lose their car again. By
pressing the "lock" button when leaving the car, its location is saved on a users'
GPS mobile phone; pressing the "unlock button" launches a map that guides the
user back to the car.
BUSINESS CATEGORY
LBSNow offers a unique approach to location-based services, enabling businesses
and individuals to readily create and surface location-based services related
to their own business/venue/service to nearby mobile users, and enabling mobile
users to discover and access these local services using their mobile devices.
Astroleap's MRewards is a location-based points system that rewards users with
points for using directional data and for being present at prime locations such
as malls, retail store locations and other "reward" areas. Points may be redeemed
for a variety of products and services. Users can also opt-in to receive special
coupons and offers based on their location, shopping, and purchase preferences,
and receive directions to select locations.
ComVu Media Inc.'s ComVu PocketCaster(TM) GPS takes advantage of camera phones
with integrated GPS receivers and enables 'one-button' mobile Webcasting. It automatically
embeds date, time and GPS data in a live video stream, and archives it on a server.
Location data can be viewed dynamically on maps, while the video is streaming.
Smarter Agent presents the first mobile real estate GPS portal that allows consumers
to search for apartments for rent, homes for sale, past sale prices and neighborhood
information right from their cell phone. Users can view videos, forward property
information, and extend their search on the web from any desktop computer. Smarter
Agent connects consumers directly to agents, property managers and owners.
ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE CATEGORY
w-PlanIT communication's location aware m-commerce platform enables consumers
to find, reserve, and or purchase travel and entertainment related services in
an automated, personalized and pervasive manner.
Wuh-sup? LLC's mobile concierge service combines personal preferences with location
to find anything to do, anytime, anywhere. Search future dates, reference other
locations, and build personal itineraries. User input to the database provides
available activities that are as diverse as the users themselves.
YDreams' Wall Street Fighter(TM) is an innovative location-based game where the
world of business works as the backdrop for some fun fighting antics. Wall Street
Fighter features highly appealing graphics, location-based scenarios and engaging
game play.
TikGames' GeoChief is a multi-faceted instrument for users on the go. Create
blogs, track routes, and navigate anywhere with multiple tools such as compass
and altimeter.
SOCIAL NETWORKING CATEGORY
duzine.com LLX's Beacon allows any J2ME GPS-enabled cell phone to map, track
and share its geographic location. The companion website enables users to provide
additional details, publish locations to a MySpace widget, interact with others
nearby, upload photos, and perform a host of other actions associated with their
physical location.
Elloqor Solutions Inc.'s Milogo is a friend-finder service that works across
wireless carriers. Milogo shows location of friends and colleagues on a map displayed
on mobile phones, integrates text messaging to facilitate the coordination of
social gatherings and copies text messages to recipient's email.
Jentro Technologies GmbH's activepilot offers local search, car and pedestrian
off board navigation with traffic avoidance and spoken street names, traffic information
on commute routes, public transportation and flight information, personal security
and community services information.
loopt, inc. delivers a social mapping service. Using location-based technologies,
loopt lets users know where their friends are by automatically updating their
locations on a map on their mobile handset and the Web.
"The prevalence of location and navigation services in the wireless industry
today can be attributed to the innovation demonstrated by the LBS developer community,
and demonstrated by proven companies such as Smarter Agent. The Global LBS Challenge
strives to foster and accelerate developers and the LBS industry," commented Winston
Guillory, Senior Vice
President - Consumer and Enterprise, NAVTEQ. "NAVTEQ is impressed with the caliber
of submissions received and anticipates a robust judging event and awards ceremony
at CTIA in Orlando."
The 16 semifinalists will be judged by an elite panel of executives from wireless
carriers, hardware and device manufacturers, industry analysts and venture capital
firms in the wireless industry. NAVTEQ will name one winner per solution category,
presenting each with $10,000 cash and $75,000 in NAVTEQ data licenses for up to
one year. Of the category winners, one will be designated the Grand Prize Winner,
and receive $50,000 cash and $100,000 in NAVTEQ map data licenses for up to one
year (in lieu of the category prize). In addition, many of the Global LBS Challenge
sponsors, including Autodesk, deCarta, ESRI and KnowledgeWhere, are also offering
cash and prizes to the winning submissions. The global prize pool is valued up
to an unprecedented $2 million. All winning applications will be announced at
the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge Awards Ceremony at CTIA Wireless 2007 -- 3 pm
on March 28, 2007, in Orange County Convention Center's Valencia Ballroom.
About Smarter Agent
Smarter Agent(R) is creating a communication revolution by combining the powerful
capabilities of mobile location based services (of which GPS is the most well-known
technology) with real estate content about properties, neighborhoods and interesting
places around you. CTIA, the telecommunications industry association, named Smarter
Agent the Winner in its Emerging Technology Awards LBS/GPS category. Smarter Agent
has been awarded 3 patents governing the use of GPS and location-based services
in the real estate vertical.
For more information, visit http://www.smarteragent.com.
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive
navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications,
and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map
content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the
world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 2,200
employees located in 144 offices in 27 countries.
NAVTEQ and Global LBS Challenge is a trademark in the U.S. and other countries.
(C) 2007 NAVTEQ. All rights reserved.
This document may include certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts and statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends",
"plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or words of similar meaning. The statements
are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to
various risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under "Item 1A. Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in
global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors.
NAVTEQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this document.
Web site: http://www.navteq.com
http://www.smarteragent.com
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