[PRNEWSWIRE]
CHICAGO, April 7 /PRNewswire/ — NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for vehicle, Internet/wireless, government and business solutions and XM Satellite Radio, the pioneer and leader in satellite radio, today unveiled a groundbreaking new satellite data information service called XM NavTraffic: the nation’s first satellite traffic information service that enables a vehicle’s on-board navigation system to display current traffic information for a driver’s chosen route.
XM NavTraffic will debut this fall providing traffic data to the AcuraLink(TM) communication system that will be a standard feature on the all- new 2005 Acura RL. The state-of-the-art Acura Satellite Navigation System will provide RL drivers with real-time traffic information integrated with an in-vehicle navigation system, a first in North America.
XM NavTraffic, which is powered by NAVTEQ Traffic(TM) data, is designed to fully integrate with the vehicle’s on-board navigation system to display current information about traffic incidents and average traffic speed along specific roadways. This information is delivered to the vehicle by the XM Radio satellites, which cover the U.S. from coast to coast. XM NavTraffic makes it possible for on-board vehicle navigation systems to provide continuously updated traffic information personalized for each driver’s needs.
Later this year, General Motors is expected to offer XM NavTraffic as an optional integrated feature on select 2005 Cadillac CTS vehicles.
XM and NAVTEQ will demonstrate the XM NavTraffic service this week at the New York International Auto Show in Booth CP11 at the Crystal Palace in the Jacob Javits Center.
“Traffic information is most useful to drivers when it is accurate, personally relevant and timely. Together with XM, we are enabling a real-time traffic data solution of unparalleled value that will help drivers to make informed, time-saving routing decisions,” said John MacLeod, Executive Vice President — Global Marketing & Strategy for NAVTEQ.
NAVTEQ Traffic provides the foundational data for seamless delivery by the XM NavTraffic service. NAVTEQ Traffic aggregates data from multiple sources across the country, including the leading commercial traffic data providers, government departments of transportation, police and emergency services, road sensors, cameras and airborne reports. NAVTEQ Traffic aggregates available data including planned incidents (such as road construction), unplanned incidents (such as accidents and disabled vehicles) and flow (speed and movement of traffic). Once received, the data is quality tested to ensure the sources meet NAVTEQ’s rigorous data quality standards. The information is then merged with NAVTEQ maps and continuously broadcast via XM’s network of satellites and ground-based repeaters, ensuring that the latest information is available to the driver.
XM NavTraffic delivers the following traffic data to vehicles:
— Unscheduled traffic incident data, such as accidents and disabled
vehicles
— Scheduled traffic incident data, such as road construction and road
closures
— Traffic flow information (the actual speed data from road sensors)
XM NavTraffic will be offered as a premium service with XM’s 120-plus channels of commercial-free music and premiere news, sports, talk, and entertainment. Final pricing will be announced prior to launch. XM, supported by NAVTEQ Traffic, will broadcast nationally the traffic information for 20 markets this fall: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. XM and NAVTEQ plan to expand the service to cover additional markets in the future.
XM NavTraffic and NAVTEQ Traffic are setting the standard as the next- generation technology platform for traffic information, designed for flexible industry-wide adoption by automakers and aftermarket system manufacturers.
About NAVTEQ
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 is privately held. The company’s approximately 1,400 employees are located in over 100 offices in 20 countries. For more information, visit http://www.navteq.com .
About XM Satellite Radio
In the fall of 2001, XM Satellite Radio pioneered the introduction of satellite radio in the U.S. Today, XM is America’s #1 satellite radio service with more than 1.6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City and Nashville, Tennessee at the Country Music Hall of Fame, XM’s 2004 lineup includes more than 120 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: 68 commercial-free music channels, featuring hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; 33 channels of premier sports, talk, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming; and 21 channels of the most advanced traffic and weather information for major metropolitan areas nationwide. Affordable, compact and stylish XM satellite radio receivers for the home, the car, the computer and boom boxes for “on the go” are available from retailers nationwide. In addition, XM is available in more than 80 different 2004 car models. XM is a popular factory-installed option on more than 40 new General Motors models, as well as a standard feature on several top-selling Honda and Acura models. Avis customers can enjoy XM as a standard feature in the company’s premium and luxury vehicles. Passengers on JetBlue Airways and AirTran Airways will be able to listen to XM’s programming in-flight later in 2004. For more information about XM, visit http://www.xmradio.com .
SOURCE NAVTEQ
Web Site:
http://www.navteq.com
http://www.xmradio.com