Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Pharos Launches Smart Navigator
Posted by Jason Dunn in "NEWS" @ 11:00 AM
"Pharos Science & Applications Inc., a leading provider of portable GPS navigation and location-based services, is introducing Smart Navigator, the first Web-based service to combine GPS navigation, real-time traffic and dynamic points-of-interest lookup for users of Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs (as well as Pocket PCs with integrated phone capabilities.) To mark the launch of Smart Navigator, Pharos is offering the service for free through the end of 2003. Smart Navigator takes advantage of the wireless Internet capability of Windows Mobile devices and GPS positioning to deliver location and navigation information to a position specified by the user.
Users of Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs throughout the U.S can access the nation’s newest traffic reporting service, Smart Traffic™, to select the most efficient driving route, and improve mobility. They also can locate nearby ATM/banks, hotels, restaurants, Internet hotspots or other businesses using Smart Finder™, all while on the go. And along the way, Smart Navigator employs GPS satellites to guide users to their destinations.
“The days of being stuck in traffic or lost en route to an important meeting may soon be a thing of the past,” said James Oyang, Ph.D., president of Pharos. “Smart Navigator brings together three innovative technologies initiated by the U.S. government -- the Global Positioning System, Internet communications and Intelligent Transportation Systems -- for the benefit of the general public. Our Smart Navigator is a time saver, a safety monitor and a mobile information kiosk all rolled into one.”
Aggregating up-to-the-minute highway monitoring data from various State Transportation Departments and its partners, Pharos’ Smart Traffic provides travelers true real-time, traffic-flow information and options to avoid traffic congestion. "Integrating real-time traffic information into navigation systems will assist travelers in selecting the best travel choices and lead us to a new level of transportation efficiency," according to Neil Schuster, president & CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America.
In addition to visualizing real-time traffic conditions, Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC users can wirelessly access hundreds of thousands of points of interest (POIs) hosted on Pharos’ Smart Navigator server. Smart Finder listings include addresses, phone numbers and Web sites for restaurants, hotels, gas stations, automated teller machines, banks, hospitals, airports and any number of other destinations. For added convenience, Smart Navigator users receive voice-prompted (or graphic or text) driving directions to those POIs from their current location."
I'm not 100% clear on exactly what this is, but it sure sounds cool. :mrgreen:
Users of Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs throughout the U.S can access the nation’s newest traffic reporting service, Smart Traffic™, to select the most efficient driving route, and improve mobility. They also can locate nearby ATM/banks, hotels, restaurants, Internet hotspots or other businesses using Smart Finder™, all while on the go. And along the way, Smart Navigator employs GPS satellites to guide users to their destinations.
“The days of being stuck in traffic or lost en route to an important meeting may soon be a thing of the past,” said James Oyang, Ph.D., president of Pharos. “Smart Navigator brings together three innovative technologies initiated by the U.S. government -- the Global Positioning System, Internet communications and Intelligent Transportation Systems -- for the benefit of the general public. Our Smart Navigator is a time saver, a safety monitor and a mobile information kiosk all rolled into one.”
Aggregating up-to-the-minute highway monitoring data from various State Transportation Departments and its partners, Pharos’ Smart Traffic provides travelers true real-time, traffic-flow information and options to avoid traffic congestion. "Integrating real-time traffic information into navigation systems will assist travelers in selecting the best travel choices and lead us to a new level of transportation efficiency," according to Neil Schuster, president & CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America.
In addition to visualizing real-time traffic conditions, Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC users can wirelessly access hundreds of thousands of points of interest (POIs) hosted on Pharos’ Smart Navigator server. Smart Finder listings include addresses, phone numbers and Web sites for restaurants, hotels, gas stations, automated teller machines, banks, hospitals, airports and any number of other destinations. For added convenience, Smart Navigator users receive voice-prompted (or graphic or text) driving directions to those POIs from their current location."
I'm not 100% clear on exactly what this is, but it sure sounds cool. :mrgreen:
