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TeleNav Introduces Its First Two-Way, Internet-Connected GPS Personal
Navigation Device
SUNNYVALE, CA, Nov 10, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) --
TeleNav, Inc., the first company to launch a cell phone GPS
navigation service in the U.S., today unveiled TeleNav Shotgun,
TeleNav's first two-way, Internet-connected GPS personal navigation
device (PND). Available for purchase immediately, TeleNav Shotgun
leverages the wireless network to provide real-time, connected
features for business travelers including traffic alerts, Internet
content (maps and business listings) and updated gas prices.
According to JD Powers' 2008 PND Usage and Satisfaction Study,
real-time information continues to be the most desirable feature among
PND owners, including real-time traffic capability, current
weather/forecast and up-to-date market information, such as average
gas prices(1).
"Connected navigation means your device won't have a limited shelf
life," said HP Jin, president, CEO and co-founder of TeleNav. "Using a
PND without a connection is like using a laptop without an Internet
connection. It limits you to information that resides on the device.
Business travelers need to stay connected in order to stay productive
and up-to-date."
Through TeleNav Connected Service(SM), TeleNav Shotgun monitors
traffic conditions along drivers' routes and proactively searches for
congestion or incidents. Customers will be alerted to traffic delays,
both audibly and on-screen, and can choose an alternative route to
their location with one touch. Users can also access specific
incident information and determine the traffic speed / flow of major
highways along their route. TeleNav Shotgun even displays an updated
estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on traffic, speeds and
distance.
TeleNav Connected Service also keeps content (maps and local search
data) up-to-date so users do not have to separately download new
information. TeleNav Shotgun comes with 11 million points of interest
(POIs), one of the largest databases of business listings available
on a PND. Categories are easy to search and include a variety of
locations, including restaurants, hotels, airports, Wi-Fi hot spots
and regular gas price updates. A customer can also type in the name
of a specific business. Business listings include phone numbers so
users can save money on 411 charges if they need to call ahead.
Users can also preplan trips, save addresses and manage accounts
online at www.telenav.com. Customers can save locations in their 'My
Favorites' folder, which will be automatically downloaded on their
device next time they turn it on. Additionally, the new My TeleNav
Internet browser plug-in for Internet Explorer(R), Firefox(R) and
Google(R) toolbars provides users an easy way to send addresses to
their TeleNav Shotgun from any Web page. Users can simply highlight
an address and click the TeleNav button on their toolbar. The address
will be automatically added to My TeleNav for later use on their
Shotgun device. Online access means that administrative assistants
can help preplan business trips as well.
TeleNav Shotgun is a good choice for both new customers as well as
those already using TeleNav GPS Navigator(TM) on their mobile phone.
According to recent research from industry analyst firm Berg Insight,
PNDs and cell phone GPS solutions will co-exist in the market as
demand will continue for both(2).
David Chamberlain, principal wireless analyst with In-Stat, agrees.
"We have found, through several recent consumer surveys, that mobile
handset navigation and PNDs may actually be complementary rather than
competing," stated Chamberlain. "More than 30 percent of consumers
that we surveyed last year said they would consider buying both."
"We're leveraging our experience and success with connected cell
phone GPS navigation to provide the best in connected PNDs,"
continued TeleNav's Jin. "Now we offer our customers both options.
The wireless connectivity of TeleNav Shotgun means they get the same
features and convenience that they're familiar with in TeleNav GPS
Navigator, with the added value of a larger screen."
With the TeleNav Connected Service, TeleNav Shotgun users can take
advantage of upgrades without having to purchase a new device(3).
Updates will be delivered via the wireless network, so users don't
have to deal with the hassle of connecting cables and downloading
software on a PC.
Some feature updates that are under development include(4):
-- Restaurant Reviews - Quickly identify the top places to go and read
what others say.
-- Address Sharing - Share addresses or your location to meet up with
friends more efficiently.
-- Weather - Get up-to-date, detailed weather information.
-- Commute Alerts - Get emailed alerts about traffic conditions on your
daily commute.
Availability
TeleNav Shotgun is available immediately for $299 and
includes three months of free TeleNav Connected Service.
TeleNav Connected Service includes real-time traffic alerts, Internet
search with over 11 million business listings, updated maps, online
preplanning, and access to selected new features when they are
available.
Options for service plans include:
-- 2 Year Plan: $239 (equivalent to $9.96 per month)
-- 1 Year Plan: $129 (equivalent to $10.75 per month)
-- Month to Month: $11.99 per month
Device owners not wishing to subscribe to TeleNav Connected Service
following the three-month free period included with their purchase
will be able to use the TeleNav Shotgun for GPS-enabled turn-by-turn
navigation but will not have access to connected features such as
real-time traffic and online preplanning.
TeleNav Shotgun Highlights
Hardware Highlights:
-- Slim and portable at 4.9L x 3.1W x 0.75H inches
-- High-quality 4.3 inch TFT LCD touch screen
-- Car and home charger
-- Mounting arm and cradle
Software Highlights:
-- Onscreen and voice guidance with spoken street names
-- Full-color 3D moving maps
-- Over 11 million POIs
-- Preloaded with maps of U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico(5)
TeleNav Connected Service Highlights:
-- Real-time traffic updates and intelligent rerouting
-- Internet-connected Search
-- Online preplanning: send addresses from the Web to your device
-- Access latest releases of maps and POIs
-- Access to selected new features when available
To find out more information or to purchase TeleNav Shotgun, visit
www.telenav.com/shotgun or call TeleNav at 1 88 TeleNav 8
(1.888.353.6288).
Editor's note: TeleNav Shotgun images, b-roll and a fact sheet are
available for download at: http://www.telenav.com/about/pr-shotgun/.
About TeleNav, Inc.
TeleNav, Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in Sunnyvale,
California, was the first to launch a cell phone GPS system in the
United States. Deployed by 15 carriers in 21 countries, TeleNav is a
global leader in wireless location-based services (LBS). Currently,
the company's solutions are available in four continents, including
North and South America, Asia and Europe.
TeleNav's solutions include GPS navigation, Mobile Resource
Management (MRM), asset GPS tracking (AVL), social networking and
local search. The company's flagship product, TeleNav GPS
Navigator(TM), is comparable to in-car systems found in luxury
vehicles, offering a superior experience with functionality, such as
automatically-updated maps and business locations, full color 3D
moving maps, traffic alerts and one-click
rerouting,
location-sharing, business reviews, speech recognition,
Wi-Fi hotspot finder,
lowest-price fuel finder and more. TeleNav's
enterprise application, TeleNav Track, incorporates GPS-enabled
tracking, time sheets, wireless forms and navigation. TeleNav Track
is a widely adopted service with over 9,000 customer organizations
using it today.
TeleNav products are available on more than 450 wireless devices and
run on all major mobile platforms currently available. TeleNav's
partners include Sprint Nextel, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Alltel, Boost
Mobile, Qwest, SouthernLINC Wireless, Rogers, Bell Mobility, T-Mobile
UK, T-Mobile Austria, China Mobile, Vivo Brazil, Telcel, NII
Holdings, Research In Motion (RIM), Motorola, Samsung, Sanyo, LG,
Palm, HTC, Hewlett Packard, Nokia, Tele Atlas, deCarta, INRIX,
Qualcomm and SiRF Technology Holdings.
For more information on TeleNav, please visit www.telenav.com.
Copyright 2008 TeleNav, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
"TeleNav," "TeleNav Shotgun," "TeleNav GPS Navigator," the TeleNav
logo, and "telenav.com" are registered and unregistered trademarks
and/or service marks of TeleNav, Inc. Unless otherwise noted, all
other trademarks, service marks, and logos used in this press release
are the trademarks, service marks or logos of their respective
owners.
(1) JD Power and Associates 2008 Portable Navigation Device Usage and
Satisfaction Study(SM), Oct. 2008.
(2) Mobile Navigation Services, Berg Insight, October 2008.
(3) New features may be packaged and sold differently and may require
additional fees. Details will be available when the new features are
released.
(4) While the listed future feature updates are part of TeleNav's
current development roadmap, the ultimate delivery times and feature
sets are subject to change.
(5) TeleNav Connected Service is only available while traveling in
the U.S.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=870617
Embedded Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=450611
Contact:
Mary Beth Lowell
TeleNav Inc.
425.531.0122
Email Contact
SOURCE: TeleNav, Inc.
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=8436766AB2C1D52B
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