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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