MikeB Frequent Visitor

Joined: 20/08/2002 11:51:57 Posts: 3859 Location: Essex, UK
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject: Destinator push into the far east. |
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Destinator are starting to make moves into the Asian SatNav market, with particular emphasis on China. Currently there are a number of providers of software for the far east, but not from any of the major Western suppliers.
This is starting to change with the mapping providers starting to release data for some of the Asian countries, and the relaxing of restrictions in some countries. This is starting to open up new markets for our household (well at least to PocketGPSWorld.com readers) names.
I have had some mapping for Taiwan for some time now, and although it is not as complete as the North American or European data Taipei was well covered, and all of the major roads I travelled on were in there. It will be interesting to see how this is taken up both by the Chinese, and visitors.
I am going to Taiwan next week for the Computex trade show and am just wondering if this announcement is timed to coincide with the expo.
Destinator Press Release wrote: | Destinator steps up drive into Asia Pacific navigation software market
· first to develop new TMC (traffic message channel) solution
· new Linux development meets region’s open source demand
Munich, 30th May 2007
Destinator Technologies today announces plans to strengthen its presence in the Asia Pacific region to meet growing demand for its satellite navigation software.
With analysts predicting high growth in take-up of satellite navigation in China – via personal navigation devices and smartphones - the company wants to capitalise on its’ already premium position in the market, having first established a presence in 2005.
Currently, Destinator employs over 50 people in Beijing and Taipei – with one of the largest dedicated navigation software research and development teams in the region. The company says that it will increase the number of staff in the region by the end of 2007.
Destinator already has a string of contracts with regional personal navigation device manufacturers, including Shinco, Motorola and Sony Ericsson China. Strong relationships with local digital mapping suppliers have also been created to provide in-depth coverage of all the major regions in the country.
Recently, the company has developed a new Linux version of its popular Destinator 6 software to meet growing demand for open source solutions in the region – alongside its Windows and Symbian versions.
The company has also become the first navigation software developer to develop a TMC (traffic message channel) service for the Chinese market, offering drivers information on how to avoid traffic congestion. Destinator will be working with its partners to offer the service to visitors attending next year’s Olympic games in Beijing.
China has overtaken Japan as the world’s second largest car market with sales surging 25 per cent in 2006 to 7.2 million vehicles according to the National Bureau, with local manufacturers already saying that “traffic messaging” will be the “must have” satellite navigation feature going forward.
Destinator Technologies CEO Brian Barry said: “China represents one of the big opportunities for Destinator and we’re very excited about the progress we have made since entering the market two short years ago.
“We’ve already taken market-leading positions in the provision of traffic information and the development of a Linux solution. We are also the first company to provide applications across all major OS – Windows, Linux and Symbian UIQ3.0 and cutting-edge SMS/MMS interactive navigation technologies. Other innovative plans are in the pipeline to really take our presence in the market to the next level.”
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_________________ Mike Barrett |
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