Interesting development here that deCarta is launching it's own Connected Navigation (CNav)capability where it is serving as the engine behind the interface. The CNav (yea; we needed a good acronym for this term), capability will go a long way to trying to match the Dash Navigation capabilities that burst onto the market back in March.
The connected capability will give connected search (Think Google), as well as offer a bigger data pipe for sending more finely tuned traffic data down to the GPS devices. This means that not only can you get faster updates across a broader set of roads, but you can also get finer resolution on where jams start and end.
According to their website their traffic engine appears to use the Inrix data feeds to deliver broad coverage in dozens of metro areas.
Should be interesting to see who and what comes along using the deCarta engine.
Press Release after the jump......
deCarta Announces Commercial Availability of Real-Time, Two-Way Connected Navigation Service
First customer deployment of deCarta-enabled devices slated for late October 2008
Canalys Navigation Forum, Half Moon Bay, Calif. - October 14, 2008 - deCarta, the leading supplier of software and services for the Location-Based Services (LBS) industry, today announced the commercial availability and shipments of its real-time, two-way connected navigation (CNAV) service for next-generation personal navigation devices (PNDs) and smartphones. Unveiled in March, the service is offered to existing and new-entrant PND suppliers, carriers, handset manufacturers, consumer brands, automotive OEMs and in-vehicle service providers. The Company's first major customer will be deploying personal navigation devices utilizing deCarta's CNAV technology in late October in time to meet the 2008 holiday season.
Real-time, two-way CNAV devices unite the user experience of a PND with the vast spectrum of dynamic content that can be provided from a network server. The result is a truly "smart" navigation device that brings more usable and relevant information to the user; two measures required to make the PND an "everyday" utility device for drivers.
deCarta's CNAV service provides the core technology to allow customers to quickly bring new products to market. The complete service includes customizable navigation software for the PND, hosted servers which manage delivery of traffic solutions and other relevant content and the wireless connectivity to connect these two. Customers can choose to use the complete solution or separate components to suit their needs. The service enables customers to build new revenue opportunities by quickly bringing to market a premium connected navigation device with superior, consumer-relevant location-aware capabilities including;
* Real-time and predictive traffic-aware routing / More efficient routes
* Corridor search / More relevant and practical results for searching along a route Cheapest gas nearby and fast Internet search/ Increased utility and performance satisfaction
* Destination downloads / Information sent to device from user's home PC
* Weather
deCarta's CNAV service provides all the necessary components to deliver a full-featured, customizable connected navigation application. The deCarta services include: application development, design assistance for a custom UI, content provider management and delivery technology, carrier-grade hosting facilities, MVNO wireless services, device-side modem interface software, hardware reference platform, wireless gateway technology, automatic wireless provisioning and activation and new, patented navigation service technologies. Internet search is enabled through deCarta's proxy server.
