Maps to show you the way
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Maps are important in the world of GPS. And I mean VERY important!
The two largest suppliers of navigation maps are TeleAtlas and Navteq (the former NavTech), with some local suppliers of additional maps are working on new maps of developed new grounds and new editions of already developed grounds.
I have been working at Philips Car Systems – CARiN division (, after that VDO Car Systems (and now Siemens/VDO)), the inventors of one of the first navigation systems, in 1998 as a map test engineer. ( I think my love for GPS started here ;-) )
There we have been working with maps of both companies. There has been a slight tendency to one of the companies, but I can’t recall which one. But this is not important for now. I am sure that meanwhile methods of testing are improved to the max for this moment. I have the – unfounded – idea that the cycle for maps is no more then 2-3 months right now, including couriers running back and forth.
Maps are not only important for car navigation, but more and more for handheld navigation devices of Garmin or Magellan.
Next to that mobile phones are coming up as a device to show you the way. Example to that is that Nokia’s Smart2Go navigation application for symbian phones was downl0aded about 800.000 times (1) within 2 months of being available.
People like me like to have maps of the city they visit on their gsm. For hardcore (car)navigation I would say that real navigation software is a better choice.
Come home safe, walking or driving!
