Agreement helps Canadian wireless developers improve speed to market

     CHICAGO, Dec. 17 -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions (LBS), announced today a signed agreement with Wavefront -- a new not-for-profit organization in British Columbia that provides test and commercialization services to developers of mobile applications -- in which NAVTEQ, along with a select group of leaders in the wireless telecommunications industry, will become a founding member of Wavefront.

    "We are very pleased to have NAVTEQ, an acknowledged leader in the provision of premium-quality digital map data, join as a founding member of Wavefront," said James Maynard, president, Wavefront. "This collaboration will provide British Columbia's rapidly growing LBS developer community with the tools and expert advice they need to develop compelling mobile navigation and location-based services for the marketplace."

    The British Columbia (BC) provincial government has shown its strong support of the wireless industry through its recent funding of $5 million to help Wavefront with startup and operational costs, including BC's first wireless technology centre. Working together with its established organizations, Wavefront provides the wireless developer community with neutral, independent test services and the market knowledge to enable rapid commercialization. The recent agreement between Wavefront and NAVTEQ will provide wireless developers with access to such premium resources as NAVTEQ(R) map data and the NAVTEQ Network for Developers(TM) (NN4D), a dynamic online web portal that provides developers and business partners with the technical and business support needed to build, showcase and launch the most innovative location-enabled solutions.

    "Wavefront will help enable a great number of wireless developers to meet the rigorous requirements of national and international mobile operators in a cost-effective manner," commented Winston Guillory, senior vice president, consumer and enterprise, NAVTEQ. "As a founding member of Wavefront, NAVTEQ is continuing its ongoing commitment to helping the developer community build and launch the next generation of location-enabled applications."

    For more information on NAVTEQ Network for Developers, visit http://www.NN4D.com.

     About Wavefront

    Wavefront is the commercialization bridge between the wireless developer community and the mobile operators, government and enterprises that are deploying new wireless products and services. In collaboration with its established partners, Wavefront provides the developer community with neutral, independent test services and the market knowledge to enable rapid commercialization.

     About NAVTEQ Network for Developers

    NAVTEQ Network for Developers (NN4D) is a dynamic online web portal that provides developers and business partners with the technical and business support needed to build, showcase and launch the most innovative location-enabled solutions. Connect with the people, tools and resources you need to grow your business by visiting http://www.NN4D.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 over 3,100 employees located in 167 offices in 31 countries.