MikeB Frequent Visitor
Joined: 20/08/2002 11:51:57 Posts: 3859 Location: Essex, UK
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: Tele Atlas put Taiwan on the Map! |
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Tele Atlas has entered into a joint venture with Systems and Technology Corporation forming Tele Atlas Taiwan Co. Ltd. The famous orange mapping vans were seen on the streets of Taipei, Taiwan representing the first time a Tele Atlas surveying vehicle has been in operation in the Asian continent. This deal which will be concluded by the end of July 2007 at which time Tele Atlas will have full access to Systems and Technology Corporation's digital mapping data.
Ironically although Taiwan has been one of the major providers of GPS technology over the last few years, very little of it is actually used in Taiwan itself. Interestingly this has changed this year with a number of companies (including TomTom) producing navigation products for use in Taiwan. This announcement from Tele Atlas will surely lead to more GPS systems being made available in the country.
With the acquisition of S&T by Tele Atlas and the recent map coverage announcements from Navteq there is a clear indication that the major mapping companies are forging ahead to complete the goal of mapping the World.
Tele Atlas press release wrote: | Tele Atlas Announces Formation Of Tele Atlas Taiwan Co., Ltd.
Joint Venture with S&T Creates Newest Asia Pacific Office;?Company’s Mobile Mapping Van Debuts in Taipei
‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, July 5, 2007 – Tele Atlas (FSE: TA6, EUNV: TA), a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content for navigation and location based solutions, announced today a joint venture with Systems and Technology Corporation (S&T) to form Tele Atlas Taiwan Co., Ltd., an independent entity focused on delivering a complete digital map of the territory for portable, Internet, in-car and wireless navigation systems and applications. Tele Atlas Taiwan also unveiled its first mobile mapping van in the Asia Pacific region in the heart of downtown Taipei.
Formed in 1987, S&T is recognized for delivering automatic vehicle location systems that track mobile assets and producing high quality digital maps of Taiwan. The S&T map database includes 100 percent coverage of the area’s street network, covering more than 100,000 kilometers and 95,000 points of interest (POIs).
As part of the agreement, Tele Atlas Taiwan will assume all mapping assets of S&T, including the existing mapping business that produces navigable maps and the data production operation for government and other projects. Tele Atlas Taiwan will also integrate Tele Atlas’ most advanced map updating processes into its operations, including data captured from its newly deployed mobile mapping van. Through its roof-mounted 360 degree cameras and laser sensors, the van quickly and efficiently captures information about a road including lane counts, speed limits, and other data, giving Tele Atlas the information it requires to regularly update its maps. The van also collects images of streets, storefronts, road signs, and complex intersections that can be incorporated in maps to help users more easily find locations.
Taiwan is a worldwide leader in delivering electronics goods, including GPS-related products such as personal navigation devices (PNDs). Mio Technology, part of the MiTAC group, is one of the area’s largest global suppliers of PNDs. A key Tele Atlas partner since 2006, Mio now holds the number three position in worldwide market share.
“Taiwan is an incredibly advanced market, and as the world’s leading supplier of electronics goods, it is also one of the region’s fastest growing markets for portable navigation systems and wireless local search applications,” said Tele Atlas Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Mark Steele. “Forming Tele Atlas Taiwan acknowledges the important role the area plays in the worldwide navigation systems market, and helps us answer growing customer requirements for highly accurate digital maps of Taiwan. The combination of S&T’s database and Tele Atlas’ global experience and customer base will ensure our joint venture is a success.”
“With this joint venture, S&T can leverage Tele Atlas’ maps and market strength to enhance our automatic vehicle location system and navigation software in the more than 80 markets worldwide where our systems are currently distributed. It is a combination that will bring benefit to both of us,” added S&T CEO Michael Lan. |
_________________ Mike Barrett |
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