High Quality
Open the downloaded document, and select print from the file menu (PDF reader required).
NAVTEQ Announces 2007 Global LBS Challenge Semifinalists (The Americas)
(Wednesday, 21 March 2007) - Contributed by NAVTEQ - Last Updated ()
Former LBS Challenge Winner Launches Second Application on Major Wireless Carrier{mosaddphp:mega.php}CHICAGO, March 21 -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation andlocation-based solutions, announces the semifinalist applications in the 2007 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge(R). Theprogram is designed to encourage application developers around the world to build innovative location-based services(LBS) that work with mobile and wireless devices using dynamic positioning technology and NAVTEQ(R) maps.NAVTEQ selected 16 applications in the Americas region, out of over 340 companies registered for the LBS Challengeglobally, to continue on to a final judging round at CTIA Wireless 2007 based on each competitor's commercial feasibility,functionality and design.By creating this unique forum for developers to gain exposure and access to industry experts and decision makers, 6previous LBS Challenge participants have received venture capital funding and 8 past LBS Challenge winners havelaunched commercial applications on major wireless carriers, including Verizon Wireless and Sprint. Smarter Agent(R), aformer category winner and current semifinalist in the Global LBS Challenge, recently launched APTS FOR RENT, a toolthat gives customers the power to view nearby apartments for rent on their mobile phone. Smarter Agent has elegantlycombined the powerful capabilities of location based services (LBS) with real estate property information to provide userswith instant data about the world around them to deliver two commercially available applications."Through our participation in the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge, Smarter Agent was given the opportunity to activelylaunch into new business ventures by exposing our company to the right industry players at the right time. NAVTEQ jump-starts relationships between LBS content providers, carriers and vendors," commented Eric Blumberg, Smarter AgentPresident and Founder. "The exposure received since winning has helped Smarter Agent gain widespread nationalmedia attention and help Recently Sold Homes become a commercialized product, recently launched on a majorwireless carrier."The following companies, and their respective LBS applications, have been selected as semifinalists. These companieswill advance to an official judging round at CTIA Wireless in March (listed by category):NAVIGATION CATEGORYIOTO International Inc.'s LBS solution establishes a channel for selling transportation services between points of interest(POI). Ranking transportation links and destination according to user interest from a particular origin, IOTO offerscustomers wayfinding, comparison, and convenience benefits.ParkWhiz Inc.'s ParkWhiz Mobile uses location-based services to help consumers find parking information (price,distance, hours, accessibility, reservations).Ten23's SpotKast keeps phones updated with relevant information, allowing users to skip download times, read webcontent, find POI, avoid traffic jams and spot friends through one easy-to-use interface.Zeetoo's Car Finder guarantees that users will never lose their car again. By pressing the "lock" button when leaving the
http://www.lbszone.com - LBSzone - The Location Based Services CommunityPowered by MamboGenerated: 11 March, 2009, 22:23
car, its location is saved on a users' GPS mobile phone; pressing the "unlock button" launches a map that guides theuser back to the car.BUSINESS CATEGORYLBSNow offers a unique approach to location-based services, enabling businesses and individuals to readily create andsurface location-based services related to their own business/venue/service to nearby mobile users, and enabling mobileusers to discover and access these local services using their mobile devices.Astroleap's MRewards is a location-based points system that rewards users with points for using directional data and forbeing present at prime locations such as malls, retail store locations and other "reward" areas. Points may be redeemedfor a variety of products and services. Users can also opt-in to receive special coupons and offers based on theirlocation, shopping, and purchase preferences, and receive directions to select locations.ComVu Media Inc.'s ComVu PocketCaster(TM) GPS takes advantage of camera phones with integrated GPS receiversand enables 'one-button' mobile Webcasting. It automatically embeds date, time and GPS data in a live video stream,and archives it on a server. Location data can be viewed dynamically on maps, while the video is streaming.Smarter Agent presents the first mobile real estate GPS portal that allows consumers to search for apartments for rent,homes for sale, past sale prices and neighborhood information right from their cell phone. Users can view videos, forwardproperty information, and extend their search on the web from any desktop computer. Smarter Agent connectsconsumers directly to agents, property managers and owners.ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE CATEGORYw-PlanIT communication's location aware m-commerce platform enables consumers to find, reserve, and or purchasetravel and entertainment related services in an automated, personalized and pervasive manner.Wuh-sup? LLC's mobile concierge service combines personal preferences with location to find anything to do, anytime,anywhere. Search future dates, reference other locations, and build personal itineraries. User input to the databaseprovides available activities that are as diverse as the users themselves.YDreams' Wall Street Fighter(TM) is an innovative location-based game where the world of business works as thebackdrop for some fun fighting antics. Wall Street Fighter features highly appealing graphics, location-based scenariosand engaging game play.TikGames' GeoChief is a multi-faceted instrument for users on the go. Create blogs, track routes, and navigate anywherewith multiple tools such as compass and altimeter.SOCIAL NETWORKING CATEGORY
http://www.lbszone.com - LBSzone - The Location Based Services CommunityPowered by MamboGenerated: 11 March, 2009, 22:23
duzine.com LLX's Beacon allows any J2ME GPS-enabled cell phone to map, track and share its geographic location.The companion website enables users to provide additional details, publish locations to a MySpace widget, interact withothers nearby, upload photos, and perform a host of other actions associated with their physical location.Elloqor Solutions Inc.'s Milogo is a friend-finder service that works across wireless carriers. Milogo shows location offriends and colleagues on a map displayed on mobile phones, integrates text messaging to facilitate the coordination ofsocial gatherings and copies text messages to recipient's email.Jentro Technologies GmbH's activepilot offers local search, car and pedestrian off board navigation with traffic avoidanceand spoken street names, traffic information on commute routes, public transportation and flight information, personalsecurity and community services information.loopt, inc. delivers a social mapping service. Using location-based technologies, loopt lets users know where their friendsare by automatically updating their locations on a map on their mobile handset and the Web."The prevalence of location and navigation services in the wireless industry today can be attributed to the innovationdemonstrated by the LBS developer community, and demonstrated by proven companies such as Smarter Agent. TheGlobal LBS Challenge strives to foster and accelerate developers and the LBS industry," commented Winston Guillory,Senior VicePresident - Consumer and Enterprise, NAVTEQ. "NAVTEQ is impressed with the caliber of submissions received andanticipates a robust judging event and awards ceremony at CTIA in Orlando."The 16 semifinalists will be judged by an elite panel of executives from wireless carriers, hardware and devicemanufacturers, industry analysts and venture capital firms in the wireless industry. NAVTEQ will name one winner persolution category, presenting each with $10,000 cash and $75,000 in NAVTEQ data licenses for up to one year. Of thecategory winners, one will be designated the Grand Prize Winner, and receive $50,000 cash and $100,000 in NAVTEQmap data licenses for up to one year (in lieu of the category prize). In addition, many of the Global LBS Challengesponsors, including Autodesk, deCarta, ESRI and KnowledgeWhere, are also offering cash and prizes to the winningsubmissions. The global prize pool is valued up to an unprecedented $2 million. All winning applications will beannounced at the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge Awards Ceremony at CTIA Wireless 2007 -- 3 pm on March 28, 2007,in Orange County Convention Center's Valencia Ballroom.About Smarter AgentSmarter Agent(R) is creating a communication revolution by combining the powerful capabilities of mobile location basedservices (of which GPS is the most well-known technology) with real estate content about properties, neighborhoods andinteresting places around you. CTIA, the telecommunications industry association, named Smarter Agent the Winner inits Emerging Technology Awards LBS/GPS category. Smarter Agent has been awarded 3 patents governing the use ofGPS and location-based services in the real estate vertical.For more information, visit http://www.smarteragent.com.About NAVTEQ
http://www.lbszone.com - LBSzone - The Location Based Services CommunityPowered by MamboGenerated: 11 March, 2009, 22:23
Add a Comment