Yandex Maps Goes Global

Yandex, a Russian search engine, is launching its popular online mapping service Yandex Maps quietly. Its digital mapping service now includes international maps for Europe and the U.S.

In Russia, Yandex’s Maps service does especially well on the desktop, with 16.5 million unique users in September 2012, according to ComScore. The company says it also clocked 6.6 million mobile users for its maps in the month.

You can visit Yandex Maps via maps.yandex.com.

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Traffic Pro Captures Real-Time Traffic in India

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, today launched its renowned NAVTEQ Traffic Pro real-time traffic service in India, delivering comprehensive, real-time traffic information to more than 26 million people in the country's two largest cities by population, Delhi and Mumbai.

Research shows drivers in India who use traffic-enabled navigation on a regular basis can spend 18% less time sitting in congestion over those that don't — the equivalent to almost three days saved on the road each year. Additionally, the findings show that drivers with real-time traffic experience reductions in distance traveled as well as increase fuel efficiency which could lead to a decrease in CO2 emissions per driver of 628 kilograms, or 23% less than a driver without a navigation system*.

NAVTEQ Traffic Pro is a robust, real-time traffic service offering superior coverage wherever consumers drive. It delivers detailed information about traffic speeds on motorways, main and secondary roads to enable more accurate estimated arrival times. The service is currently available in 24 countries** where it powers a vast array of connected devices including in-car navigation systems, personal navigation devices, mobile phones, smart pads and web sites.

Based on the world's most diverse traffic collection network, NAVTEQ Traffic Pro provides peerless traffic information so consumers know where and when to drive to save time, fuel and frustration. NAVTEQ aggregates and analyzes traffic data from a vast wealth of sources, including the world's largest compilation of both commercial and consumer probe data, the world's largest fixed proprietary sensor network, event-based data collected from government sources, and billions of historical traffic records.

"The launch of NAVTEQ Traffic Pro in India is another important milestone in our commitment to provide the highest quality, global traffic solution to our customers and commuters," said Ogi Redzic, vice president for NAVTEQ Traffic. "Mumbai and Delhi are two of the world's most densely populated cities, which can be particularly challenging when it comes to helping people avoid traffic congestion. NAVTEQ's unique expertise in global traffic processing provides an accurate and seamless traffic solution that will save travelers in India time, fuel and frustration."

NAVTEQ has built its reputation not only on the quality of its data, but also creating products that meet the unique demands of the Indian travelers. The latest commercially released version of the NAVTEQ map of India map is available for more than 2,200 cities throughout India, covers 6.47 million POIs (Points of Interest) across 1.19 million km of the national road network.

About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of location content in the form of maps, traffic and places data that enables navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ supplies precise, comprehensive location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 5,800 employees located in 200 offices in 54 countries.

For more information on NAVTEQ, please visit http://corporate.navteq.com . This NAVTEQ press release and other news is available at http://press.navteq.com. Join NAVTEQ on Facebook at facebook.com/ NAVTEQCompany and Twitter at @NAVTEQ.

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Ford Motor Chooses NAVTEQ as Map Provider

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, has been selected by Ford Motor Company to be their exclusive map supplier for the SYNC MyFord Touch. The agreement positions NAVTEQ as the map data provider for the SYNC with MyFord Touch SD-card based navigation system in North America, South America, Middle East, Russia and Europe. NAVTEQ maps powers more than 24 million in-vehicle navigation systems worldwide.

MyFord Touch featuring NAVTEQ map data is scheduled to launch on multiple 2013 Ford and Lincoln vehicles in North America early next year with expanded features such as NAVTEQ Voice, Speed Limit information, Enhanced Junction View Content, 3D Landmarks, and NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns™. The North American launch will be followed by the systems launch in South America, Europe, Russia and the Middle East. The available navigation system will also be equipped with some of NAVTEQ's state of the art content specific to each respective region.

The NAVTEQ map is collected and built using a comprehensive step-by-step process. At every stage, there is a central focus on creating accurate and precise data. NAVTEQ's primary goal throughout the collection process is to capture data as it exists in the real world. Equipped with specialized tools, NAVTEQ's Digital Mapping Operations team collects and verifies street geometry and up to 260 attributes such as one-way streets, turning lanes, speed limits and information pertaining to points-of-interest.

"NAVTEQ's comprehensive automotive grade quality and the consistency of our global specification enables consumers to get the best route through their MyFord Touch navigation system," said Jeff Mize, Senior Vice President, Sales & Business Development, NAVTEQ. "Providing superior location data combined with exceptional support is an invaluable competitive advantage we provide to our customers."

In order to maintain map data of the highest automotive quality grade, NAVTEQ's mission is to keep up with changes in the real world. NAVTEQ has proven that driving the roads is a key differentiator that provides the highest quality database. NAVTEQ's geographic analysts drive millions of miles annually in order to capture and validate the road network and location-based content as it exists in the real world. Operating from 200 offices in 54 countries throughout the world, NAVTEQ's team of geographic analysts has the local knowledge needed to provide superior accuracy of our maps. Because the road network and content are constantly changing, local presence is critical to change detection and verification—two essential factors in maintaining NAVTEQ's stringent automotive grade quality standards.

About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of location content in the form of maps, traffic and places data that enables navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ supplies precise, comprehensive location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 5,800 employees located in 200 offices in 54 countries.

For more information on NAVTEQ, please visit http://corporate.navteq.com .

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Digital Cameras With GPS From Fujifilm and NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world has been selected by Fujifilm to support the introduction of their new GPS-enabled digital cameras with map data and POI content. NAVTEQ is now supplying map and POI (points of interest) data for Fujifilm's FinePix F550EXR and FinePix XP30. The FinePix F550EXR comes with a built-in GPS functionality, while the FinePix XP30 is a water, shock, dust and freeze proof model featuring built-in GPS functionality.

NAVTEQ map coverage spans across 85 countries in six continents. The NAVTEQ map features points of interests in over 50 categories including restaurants, tourist attractions, shops and hotels. Thanks to the half a million plus list of locations included within the NAVTEQ map, both FinePix models will recognize your location and display it, either as longitude and latitude, or by place name. A tag is then placed on the image which, when using place names, can easily be searched for, enabling users to quickly find shots of a specific location or point of interest. Once images are found using the search function, it's simple for users to create a photobook using the Photobook Assist function.

Characteristic functionality is also provided by the Photo Navigation function in the FinePix F550EXR and FinePix XP30, where a user can find their way back to the place where a photo was taken. For example, if a user takes a photo at a restaurant that they would like to return to, one can easily search the location using the location data embedded with the image. Additionally, the location data can provide the user with the distance and directions needed to travel from their existing location to the destination.

"We are thrilled to be working with Fujifilm to take their imaging experience to the next level, beyond the traditional point and shoot functionality. They understood the importance of location from early on and recognized how this can help differentiate their product," said Rich Shuman, senior vice president, Asia Pacific, NAVTEQ Sales. "It is rewarding to see that the significant investment that NAVTEQ has made in the development of unique content enables valued customers such as Fujifilm to deliver more exciting experiences to their consumers".

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NAVTEQ Real-Time Traffic for Russia

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, announced the launch of NAVTEQ Traffic in Russia, delivering comprehensive, real-time traffic information to nearly 16.5 million people in three major cities - Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

According to recent Frost & Sullivan research, 93% of Russian consumers are interested in having access to real-time traffic information. Proprietary NAVTEQ research also shows with regular use, drivers with traffic-enabled navigation in this region could spend 18 percent less time driving on average than those without navigation--enabling Russian drivers to potentially spend four days less on the road each year.

NAVTEQ Traffic is a quality-tested, comprehensive solution that links up-to-the minute traffic information to map data and enables wireless transmission directly to in-vehicle navigation systems, personal navigation devices and cell phones. NAVTEQ Traffic delivers detailed information about traffic speeds, allowing drivers to make better routing and re-routing decisions.

The world’s largest and most diverse traffic network, the NAVTEQ Traffic mission is to provide peerless traffic information so consumers know where and when to drive to save time, fuel and

“Moscow and other Russian cities are among the most-traffic congested cities in the world,” said Howard Hayes, senior vice president for NAVTEQ Traffic. “The launch of NAVTEQ Traffic in this region represents our continued dedication to deliver comprehensive real-time traffic information that saves travelers around the globe time and money.”

NAVTEQ’s Russian coverage includes close to 19,000 kilometers of roadways across the three cities, encompassing nearly 16.5 million people.

For more information on NAVTEQ, please visit http://corporate.navteq.com.

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NAVTEQ Real-Time Traffic for United Arab Emirates

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, announced the launch of NAVTEQ Traffic in the United Arab Emirates, the first traffic launch for NAVTEQ in the Middle East.

According to recent NAVTEQ research, traffic information is the most sought after navigation-related feature on GPS navigation devices with 96% of wireless navigation users saying they want the feature and 89% of in-car drivers citing a desire for real-time traffic in U.A.E. Additionally, traffic-enabled navigation users in this region spend 18 percent less time driving on average than those without navigation, or an annual savings of four days less on the road.

NAVTEQ's comprehensive new coverage in this region includes more than 3,700 kilometers of roadways for U.A.E.'s three largest cities - Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, covering more than 50% of the region's population.

NAVTEQ Traffic is a quality-tested, comprehensive solution that links up-to-the minute traffic information to map data and enables wireless transmission directly to in-vehicle navigation systems, personal navigation devices and cell phones. NAVTEQ Traffic delivers detailed information about traffic speeds, allowing drivers to make better routing and re-routing decisions.

With this most recent launch, NAVTEQ continues to lead the way as the global traffic leader, enabling industry-leading, accurate traffic information around the world. NAVTEQ Traffic is also currently available in 23 countries around the world*.

"High-quality, accurate traffic information is in high demand in the Middle East," said Howard Hayes, senior vice president for NAVTEQ Traffic. "The launch of NAVTEQ Traffic in the United Arab Emirates, our first traffic launch in this region, represents our continued dedication to deliver comprehensive real-time traffic information that saves travelers time and money wherever they travel in U.A.E."

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NAVTEQ Real-Time Traffic in Brazil

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, announced the launch of NAVTEQ Traffic in Brazil, delivering comprehensive, real-time traffic information to nearly 48 million people in six major cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.

NAVTEQ Traffic is currently available throughout North America and 14 countries in Europe, and its availability in Brazil is part of a significant global expansion effort. NAVTEQ’s Brazilian coverage includes nearly 15,000 kilometers across the six cities, encompassing nearly 48 million people.

NAVTEQ Traffic is a quality-tested, comprehensive solution that links up-to-the minute traffic information to map data and enables wireless transmission directly to in-vehicle navigation systems, personal navigation devices and mobile phones. NAVTEQ Traffic delivers detailed information about current traffic conditions, allowing drivers to make better routing and re-
routing decisions.

To deliver the most comprehensive traffic solution, NAVTEQ has selected best-in-class data sources with years of experience in their local markets. In Brazil, this includes GPS probe data from consumer devices, including Nokia handsets. NAVTEQ’s advanced data aggregation methods, proprietary traffic modeling capabilities and stringent quality verification processes optimizes and blends this data into a high-quality traffic service that is consistent with NAVTEQ’s global traffic offering.

“The launch of NAVTEQ Traffic in Brazil marks an important milestone in our commitment to provide the highest quality traffic solution to our customers and commuters,” said Howard Hayes, senior vice president for NAVTEQ Traffic. “Travelers demand high quality, accurate real-time traffic information, and NAVTEQ’s unique expertise in global traffic processing provides an accurate and seamless traffic solution that will save travelers in Brazil time and supports reduced traveling frustration.”

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NAVTEQ Acquires NAVKEY

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, announced that it has acquired NAVKEY, the leading provider of digital map data for the Personal Navigation Device (PND) market in Argentina. The acquisition will provide NAVTEQ with full use and rights to NAVKEY’s digital map assets licensed under the NAVIAR brand.

The acquisition will enable NAVTEQ which provides quality navigable maps for 81countries, including Argentina, to incorporate NAVKEY’s digital map data to the global industry leading NAVTEQ® map. The result will be a premier map that enables NAVTEQ customers to develop navigation and location-based applications that not only utilize highly accurate map data, but a variety of products, such as NAVTEQ™ Voice and visual content that enhance the navigation experience.

“The opportunity for development of navigation and location-based services in Argentina is growing exponentially, stated Helder Azevedo, general director- Latin America, NAVTEQ. “By providing customers with high quality products that have the potential to increase the utility of these applications and services we are supporting not only our customers’ goals but bringing new levels of experiences to end-users.”

NAVTEQ has 30 employees located in Argentina. In addition to collection and production support, technical customer support is available in the Argentine office to assist customers in working with the NAVTEQ map database. Because NAVTEQ standardizes their map database to a single global data specification, customers can more easily reinvest development efforts used for bringing product to market for Argentina into applications to enter markets in other countries. This becomes extremely useful in South America where in addition to Argentina NAVTEQ provides maps for Brazil, Chile, Colombia, French Guiana, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

About NAVTEQ:
NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data (digital location content) enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ supplies comprehensive digital location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 4700 employees located in 204 offices in 46 countries.

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NAVTEQ Traffic in iPhone Navigation Application

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data for in-vehicle, portable, wireless and enterprise solutions, announced its NAVTEQ Traffic service is now available through an on-board turn-by-turn navigation application for the iPhone for the first time. The G-Map US & Canada navigation application was created by XROAD, a leading brand of location-based service products and mobile navigation software and devices, is powered by NAVTEQ map data and provides real-time traffic via NAVTEQ Traffic, for the US and Canada.

G-Map US & Canada is an upgraded version of the original G-Map application which was the first embedded GPS navigation software for iPhone and iPod Touch to offer turn-by-turn guidance. G-Map US & Canada now includes several new features including spoken street names (using text-to-speech technology) and real-time traffic through NAVTEQ Traffic. No wireless connection is needed to get a user to his or her destination.

NAVTEQ Traffic is a quality-tested, comprehensive solution that links up-to-the minute traffic information to map data and enables wireless transmission directly to in-vehicle navigation systems, personal navigation devices and cell phones. NAVTEQ Traffic delivers detailed information about road construction, traffic speeds and incidents such as accidents, allowing drivers to make better routing and re-routing decisions. NAVTEQ Traffic is available in 128 geographic areas, covering more than 200 million people in the United States and Canada.

"We believe navigation on handsets will be a constantly evolving construct but the one constant will be the requirement for consistent quality," said Sean Lee, Marketing Director, XROAD. "We took great pains to build a quality, user friendly experience which is supported by the quality inputs for traffic and maps that NAVTEQ is providing. Real time traffic is a natural combination that consumers not only desire but will fully appreciate."

"NAVTEQ recognizes that the integration of traffic content significantly enhances a consumer’s overall navigation experience, which is why we are committed to delivering traffic solutions that drive the everyday use of navigation,” commented Dave Dale, vice president, Americas Sales, NAVTEQ. "The XROAD application for the App Store is a compelling offering that has helped advance the way consumers perceive navigation by offering not only the peace of mind of turn-by-turn guidance, but also the potential for enhanced personal productivity."

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NAVTEQ to power geospatial analysis

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected NAVTEQ map data to power its geospatial analysis needs.

The EPA uses geospatial data across a wide variety of research and regulatory programs in support of its mission to protect human health and the environment. NAVTEQ map data will be used in a wide range of the EPA’s mission support areas, both for internal analysis in support of decision making as well as enhancing many of its public facing mapping applications available on the Internet.

One representative use of NAVTEQ map data will be the further development of the Texas Ecological Assessment Protocol, which requires the development of a sustainability layer that describes how resistant a particular area is to disturbance.

NAVTEQ map data includes geospatial vector data layers of important value to the EPA including roads, cities, political boundaries, physical features, places, railroads, census boundaries, parks, schools, fire departments, police departments, and hospitals.

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NAVTEQ 3D Visual Content for Brazil

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data for in-vehicle, portable, wireless and enterprise solutions, announced today at Futurecom 2009 that it has significantly increased the amount of visual content available for its NAVTEQ map for Brazil. This content includes 3D Landmarks and 3D City Models for five of the ten largest cities in Brazil. In addition to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, content is available for Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Porto Alegre. NAVTEQ customers incorporate this rich data into navigation systems to improve guidance in busy city environments.

This 3D visual content enhances the navigation experience by enabling detailed representations of reality in navigation systems at key decision points. In providing this level of detail, NAVTEQ customers can develop navigation systems that improve orientation and decision making by drivers while increasing their overall satisfaction with the system that they are using. For example a navigation screen displaying the Se Cathedral in Sao Paulo, the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro or the Government Palace in Belo Horizonte at the accurate position on the road network can provide a sense of confidence that end users associate with overall system performance and value as uncovered by NAVTEQ consumer research.

“Insights from NAVTEQ proprietary research reveal that consumers correlate visual detail with the ideal navigation device”, commented Cindy Paulauskas, vice president Americas map and content products for NAVTEQ. “These findings support our aggressive plan to increase the number of cities offering 3D visual content in Brazil and demonstrate why visual content is important for a premier navigation experience.”

All of the NAVTEQ visual content is geo-referenced to the industry-leading NAVTEQ map. And in keeping with NAVTEQ’s single database specification, these visual content products are offered in a consistent global format to help NAVTEQ customers quickly and easily move into new geographic regions by reducing application development time.

Beyond this global standardization, NAVTEQ provides technical customer support to assist customers with integrating its map and map products into their applications. Additional marketing programs are also available to provide support in launching these navigation applications and devices.

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NAVTEQ Transport Expands to Canada

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data for in-vehicle, portable, wireless and enterprise solutions, announced today at the 2009 American Trucking Associations Management Conference that it has enhanced its NAVTEQ Transport coverage to include the major highway network across the entire country of Canada.

NAVTEQ Transport is a set of navigable attributes included in the NAVTEQ Map specifically designed for trucks and large vehicles. These attributes enable NAVTEQ customers to develop a wide range of solutions to support the transportation and logistics industry for both truck management and the truck navigation. Content includes physical and legal restrictions such as height and weight, warnings, HAZMAT information and Points of Interest unique to the trucking industry.

Because NAVTEQ Transport is part of the highly accurate NAVTEQ map, it simplifies the application development process and supports quality truck management and navigation tools. Additionally, NAVTEQ's single global data specification design element strategy provides the foundation for applications that can cross country boundaries, further simplifying the development process for multi-national applications.

Known for its quality maps, NAVTEQ collects up to 260 attributes for its map, including Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) attributes that when used in either adaptive cruise control systems or in-cab navigation devices, can lead to significant fuel savings. ADAS attributes that can affect savings include slope and height data, traffic signals, railroad crossings and intersections. Research indicates these attributes support fuel savings when used to project upcoming changes in the terrain enabling adaptation of driving and vehicle behavior to optimize fuel consumption. Additionally, recently shared NAVTEQ proprietary research highlighted the fact that regular use of a navigation system can increase fuel efficiency by 12%.

The leading suppliers to the trucking industry are providing high-quality navigation systems that support accurate turn-by-turn navigations for Class 6-8 trucks. And trucking companies that adopt in-vehicle navigation have the opportunity to increase their profitability and maintain a competitive advantage.

“These leading companies recognize that truck navigation can provide a significant return on fuel economy, high driver satisfaction and increased fleet efficiency,” commented Roy Kolstad, vice president, Enterprise Americas, NAVTEQ. “NAVTEQ is proud we are providing the industry with the high quality data needed to support these applications.”

In Canada all NAVTEQ Transport content for the major highways has been verified. In the United States, coverage and verification includes all major highways and down to the last mile in dozens of high population counties. To further support the development of quality truck industry applications, NAVTEQ provides technical customer support to assist customers with integrating its map and truck attributes into their applications.

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ESRI Commits to Clinton Global Initiative with Carbon Reduction Solution

The City and County of San Francisco is working with ESRI and NAVTEQ to implement a pilot program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This project is part of a commitment with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). By using ESRI's ArcLogistics software, San Francisco will optimize its fleet operations and reduce its carbon footprint. NAVTEQ's highly detailed map data, which is essential for efficient route planning, is built into the ESRI routing solution.

The project is a result of ESRI, NAVTEQ, and San Francisco's participation in CGI, with a goal to reduce carbon emissions. The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Global Initiative to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change, including reducing carbon emissions. At the CGI 2009 Annual Meeting, held in New York City September 22–25, ESRI President Jack Dangermond announced ESRI's commitment to the CGI endeavor and described San Francisco's pilot program. This commitment includes a grant of ESRI's route optimization software ArcLogistics to local governments in large metropolitan areas. San Francisco is the pilot participant in this national project.

"ESRI's ArcLogistics software is being used in San Francisco's GreenRoutes pilot program," notes San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom. "It will create more efficient routes for the city's fleet vehicles, thereby helping decrease municipal fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions. We are pleased to be partnering with ESRI on this innovative program."

Prior to this project, San Francisco's fleet did not use a route calculation technology product. Using ArcLogistics and NAVTEQ map data, San Francisco fleet managers will be able to organize work assignments into routes based on actual street drive time and miles. The route scheduling function will further reduce fleet carbon emissions by suggesting an optimized stop sequence.

The pilot project includes an emissions analysis. Fleet managers will identify candidate fleets to be used in the project, and analysts will determine each fleet's current carbon emission level. They will then deploy ESRI's routing technology and, after one operational year, calculate the emission reductions realized. San Francisco will publish its findings so that government fleet managers around the nation can better assess the value of fleet routing software for emission reduction.

ESRI and NAVTEQ have made a 10-year commitment to supply San Francisco with ArcLogistics Desktop software, ArcLogistics Navigator software, and NAVTEQ map data.

ArcLogistics software users typically report fleet-related cost savings of 15–20 percent. This is attributable to the software's route-solving ability to include time windows, vehicle capacity, and the nature of the street network. It also enables dispatchers to provide drivers with barrier information, such as road closures, construction, or traffic incidents, so they can meet scheduled appointments. The application fully integrates with GPS.

NAVTEQ map data includes the latest street geometry with navigational attributes that facilitate turn-by-turn directions and enable in-dash vehicle and portable navigation devices, route planning, route optimization, and map display.

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Venezuelan map database, enhanced

The Point Addressing and visual content products for the Venezuela map were released by NAVTEQ with several enhancements.

NAVTEQ's Point Addressing product will improve the navigation guidance experience with enhanced arrival accuracy in countries such as Venezuela where addressing does not follow a regular pattern, or in some cases where addressing is based simply on a set of building names.

In addition to the benefits enabled by Point Addressing, navigation devices including NAVTEQ's visual content can provide more intuitive guidance and orientation. When integrated into the NAVTEQ map, inclusion of NAVTEQ's 3D Landmarks and 3D City.

Both Point Addressing and visual content reflect NAVTEQ's strategy to design products that are both relevant and pragmatic. The products are geo-referenced to the NAVTEQ map enabling ease of integration into existing NAVTEQ-based applications and they maximize navigation device bandwidth opportunities.

In addition to the Venezuela map, NAVTEQ's South America coverage includes maps for Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile.

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NAVTEQ Map of Jordan

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data for in-vehicle, portable, wireless and enterprise solutions has launched a navigable map of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Offering full coverage stretching from the elegance of Amman in the north to the magnificent landscape of Wadi Rum and the coastal city of Aqaba in the South, the new map includes over 28,000 kilometres of Jordan's expanding road network and, very importantly, over 13,000 of the Points of Interest (POIs) which are so key to navigation in this country.

With mail delivered to post office boxes, street addresses rarely used and most places of interest (such as government buildings, hotels and restaurants) in Jordanian cities and towns well known, directions are usually given based on nearby landmarks. With its usual attention to local detail, NAVTEQ has therefore included a particularly wide range of POIs which can be used as destinations. The commonly used 1st to 8th Circle names for the central jabal junctions have also been retained but NAVTEQ has also added the alternative official names where they are available.

This type of country specific nuance underlines the importance of driving the roads when collecting and coding complex data. Jordan was covered by a team from over 1,000 NAVTEQ geographic analysts located around the world, who, as part of the verification process, drive and sometimes walk millions of kilometres each year building and refining the database using proprietary software and tools.

With all names in both Arabic and English, the map database also includes the major tourist destinations such as Aqaba, Petra, Jerash, the Dead Sea Resort Hotels and historic landmarks in downtown Amman. As NAVTEQ foresees a strong demand for new content and database developments in Jordan, the company has already added speed limits, a recent addition to its core map.

"As Jordan continues to grow rapidly as both a commercial centre and tourist destination, it became an increasing priority to add the country in detail to our map database," explained Frank Pauli, Vice President EMEA Map and Content Products, NAVTEQ. "A government agreement has enabled us to market the map globally and respond to increasing demand from customers in the Middle East and around the world."

NAVTEQ is committed to continuing expansion of its coverage in the region which, addition to Jordan, currently includes UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

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2009 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge Winners

NAVTEQ, provider of digital map data for location-based solutions (LBS) and vehicle navigation, announced at an award ceremony that NAVITIME is the Grand Prize winner of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) edition of the 2009 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge.

NAVITIME from Japan won in the category of Navigation which is one of five categories: Content, Enterprise, Entertainment & Leisure, Navigation and Social Networking.

The three runners-up also selected by the judging panel include,
1. TenCube (Enterprise): WaveSecure helps users to remotely track down the geographical location of their lost phone and lock down, back-up and remotely wipe out copy of their personal data to protect their privacy.

2. Urban team (Entertainment): FastFoot-Challenge delivers an exciting GPS multiplayer game where, through the use of their mobile devices they can transform any park, forest, even cities into their playing field.

3. Yoose/Fox Mobile Distribution (Entertainment): YLIB-J2ME Edition is a location-based global couponing application that allows users to win coupons from businesses based on their location while playing a game or using a mobile social network on their mobile phone.

The finalists represented a broad spectrum of wireless applications for phones from Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson based on Java ME and Symbian OS, among the sponsors’ selected platforms for this year’s competition.

The 2009 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge winners were selected based on commercial feasibility, functionality, ease of use and design of the applications and the finalists’ ability to make an effective pitch to the individual expert judges.

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NAVTEQ Traffic.com new design

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data that enables navigation and location-based platforms around the world, today unveiled a new look and enhancements for its NAVTEQ Traffic.com website at www.traffic.com. The new site design and improved features make it faster and easier for drivers to get more of the accurate, real-time traffic information they need to improve their workday commutes and leisure road travel.

Distributing real-time, digital traffic data since 1998, NAVTEQ Traffic.com, is the #1 traffic-only U.S. website for online and mobile traffic information*, providing drivers with comprehensive traffic information when and where they need it most. The enhanced site features include:

-- A location-aware homepage greets users with a real-time traffic summary for their city area
-- A streamlined, easy-to-use interface offers quick links to site features and content
-- New "Search Traffic" and "Browse Traffic" tabs help users easily find information they need
-- One-click "Save This Drive" buttons make it fast and easy to personalize MyTraffic alerts
-- New, more detailed maps display color-coded traffic flow and incident icons pinpoint hotspots
-- A real-time news ticker alerts site visitors to severe incidents in each city area

The NAVTEQ Traffic.com website is part of the NAVTEQ(R) product family which includes the NAVTEQ(R) Map, the most widely used map for navigation**. As part of the new NAVTEQ Traffic.com website design, site users will see links to NAVTEQ.com resources as well as a new NAVTEQ Traffic.com logo.

Site users will notice the increased ease and speed with which they can navigate using new and improved traffic tools at www.traffic.com. In addition, MyTraffic(TM) services will be enhanced with easier access to account management and personalized alerts. MyTraffic registered users can continue to access accounts with their current login and password and will continue to receive their traffic alerts by email, phone or text.

"The latest interface enhancements and location-aware features of NAVTEQ Traffic.com increase the interactivity and usability of our real-time information making the site even more beneficial for all drivers," says Alex Wiegand, vice president, NAVTEQ. "We are committed to helping drivers plan and manage their commutes and road trips with innovative tools that make it faster and easier to obtain the traffic information they rely on every day."

* SOURCE: January 2009 comScore Media Metrix

** SOURCE: Based on GPS-based in-vehicle and portable route guidance devices purchased in the U.S. since 2000.

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NAVTEQ maps for Chile, Venezuela

NAVTEQ has announced the release of navigable map coverage in Chile and Venezuela, providing automotive-grade quality content to portable and mobile devices. The initial NAVTEQ map for Chile includes over 57,000 km of road network and the NAVTEQ map for Venezuela includes over 86,000 km. To deliver NAVTEQ’s quality, both maps include up to 260 attributes. These road attributes include information such as direction of travel, road barriers, and turn restrictions; and, are critical for supporting accurate turn-by-turn guidance in high performance navigation systems and portable devices.

In addition to road attributes, the high quality NAVTEQ map provides geometry and content that bolsters customer satisfaction when using navigation systems and mobile devices. For example, inclusion of validated Points of Interest (POIs) and address ranges offer end-users more options on how to select their destination and discover new locations. 3D Landmarks and 3D City Models support next generation navigation by providing end users an improved sense of place in unfamiliar or complex navigation situations.

In addition to the Chile and Venezuela maps, NAVTEQ’s South America coverage includes maps for Brazil and Argentina.

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NAVTEQ(R) to Acquire T-Systems Traffic GmbH

NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, has agreed to acquire T-Systems Traffic GmbH (T-Traffic), a leading provider of traffic services in Germany. The acquisition marks another important step in NAVTEQ's dedicated effort to expand its content-rich, high-quality traffic information into Europe.

T-Traffic is a provider of traffic services in Germany, with approximately 55 employees, central to European navigation because of its large user base and home to many leading automotive companies. T-Traffic's traffic services include data from private traffic sources. T-Traffic has been a provider of traffic information in Germany including major PND and automotive customers. T-Traffic specializes in the development of high-quality traffic products and navigation services for the automotive and telecommunications industries.

T-Traffic holds technologies related to all primary forms of traffic flow data collection, including community and probe sourced traffic data, cellular network data, and fixed sensor networks. These technologies complement NAVTEQ's existing capabilities that have been successfully deployed in North America. NAVTEQ intends to incorporate T-Traffic extraction and processing capabilities into the development of best-in-class traffic worldwide. When used together with community and probe based traffic data sourced from navigation devices and cellular telephones, this technology will enable rapid rollout of traffic solutions around the world.

T-Traffic also provides telematics and capabilities that complement NAVTEQ's connected services. Connected services are essential to making the NAVTEQ map easy to access and work with.

"This acquisition supports our efforts to bring best-in-class traffic to Europe and expand our traffic processing capabilities worldwide," commented John MacLeod, executive vice president, NAVTEQ Connected Services. "T-Traffic has an expertise in the extraction and processing of probe and community-sourced traffic data that will be integrated into NAVTEQ's global traffic processing system. It also has traffic information that will play a critical and immediate role in expanding NAVTEQ's traffic offerings in Europe."

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in 2009.

Please visit NAVTEQ: http://www.navteq.com

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NAVTEQ Enhanced Traffic Patterns

NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, announced the availability of NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns (TM) North America v4.0, a significantly updated historic database with improved travel time accuracy.

The newest version of Traffic Patterns, which includes typical traffic speeds on nearly one million miles of primary and secondary roads across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, also improves travel time accuracy 41 percent on average when compared with typical speeds and posted speed limits on freeways and surface roadways.

NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns gives product developers and service providers a reliable, easy-to-use data set for a variety of smart-routing applications. Routing applications utilizing NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns give drivers the information they need to decide when and how to avoid typically congested areas. From commuters to emergency service providers, NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns enables more accurate route planning and improves trip time estimates based on likely traffic conditions.

NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns is created using multiple years' observations from GPS probe and sensor data which is aggregated, verified and then matched to traffic location codes in the NAVTEQ Map database.

Traffic Patterns v4.0 also includes:

-- New highway-to-highway ramp coverage for six of the U.S.'s top 11 Designated Market Areas (DMAs): New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta and Detroit

-- Holiday traffic appendices featuring recommended routing strategies for national holidays in the U.S. and Canada

-- Expanded coverage on high-volume surface roads including interconnecting highways, which provides more alternate routing options

-- Additional probe sources for existing roads (contributing to more than five and a half billion processed GPS probe points)

Visit NAVTEQ Web site.

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