From Deseret News archives:
Navteq hits the road to log data
Competition is fierce for detailed digital maps
Now drivers hooked on digital maps are looking for more than just streets and turns. They want ever more accurate and up-to-date points of interest such as restaurants, gas stations, hotels, theme parks and more.
For digital mapmakers like Navteq Corp., it's up to road teams like Ann McNeil and Rich Joyce to deliver.
Like luxury-class explorers, the geographic analysts cruise streets and roads in a tech-laden SUV outfitted with a satellite tracking computer, electronic clipboard and rooftop cameras.
"Our customers are wanting more and more information," said McNeil, who has driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a decade at Navteq. "We're expanding all the time."
It's all part of a race with Dutch rival Tele Atlas NV to not only chart the world more accurately but also combine the maps with other relevant data.
A pioneer of the digital map business, Navteq produces the maps and software found in automobile navigation systems, portable navigation devices made by Garmin Ltd. and other companies, and Internet map sites like AOL's Mapquest, Google Inc.'s Google Maps and Yahoo Inc.'s Yahoo Maps.
Thanks to global positioning systems and recent technology advancements, Navteq is fine-tuning ways to let consumers use a phone or other handheld device to track their dogs, find where to jog in another city, learn how many calories they will burn doing it, learn where the nearest 24-hour gas stations are and see current traffic and weather conditions. Tele Atlas has its own projects under way.
"There's a lot of competition going on," said Thilo Koslowski, an analyst for Gartner Inc. "Both companies are trying to show that their data is better, by being innovative in gathering more detailed information."
The mapping duel heated up with the recent announcement that Tele Atlas agreed to a $2.6 billion acquisition by TomTom NV, the world's largest maker of personal navigation devices.
While that should make the combined European company a more formidable foe, Navteq's stock also soared. Analysts said TomTom's competitors such as Garmin may now go to the Chicago-based company for their maps rather than buy from a rival.
Comments
- N. Koreans burn bills in anger 11:28 a.m.
- $600M to go to energy plants 11:25 a.m.
- Big food drive coming Saturday 11:24 a.m.
- Expert paid $500K for Mitchell report 11:18 a.m.
- U.S. draws England for World Cup 11:16 a.m.
- Delta says traffic fell 7.1% 11:15 a.m.
- Death penalty possible in slayings 11:00 a.m.
- Embargo as genocide? 10:56 a.m.
- Stocks edge higher 10:55 a.m.
- Obama: Plan to 'jump-start' hiring 10:54 a.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- Phoenix signs off on LDS temple
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- 5A high school football All-State
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
407 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
287 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
227 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
175 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
170
Zions Bank has a free online holiday gift planner that's creating some...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
I'm sorry, I have to chuckle at all you folks that talk about bikes using the...
It isn't private land - yet. The land is controlled by SITLA. But, the land...
Imagine if BYU fans threw beer and other degrading substances onto visiting...
To John Pack Lambert | 8:12 p.m. "Diaz knows his district. Those who...
... The gospel of Jesus Christ is too broad and too deep to be confined to...
Oh, you all want a fiscal c-o-n-s-e-r-v-a-t-i-v-e for president. You mean...
We were born into this world with a National Debt, we'll all die with one, no...
Good luck!!!! OUR ONLY DEFENSE GUY!!!!
Don't worry too much about the Utah fans. They don't read too much as it is...
Whether or not it's right, Tiger's actions off the course, effect Tiger's...



You can be the first to comment on this story.