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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
NAVTEQ Brings Judging of Third Annual NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge to Two Continents
CHICAGO, May 11 -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading
global provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation and location-based
solutions, will be hosting the official judging of its third annual NAVTEQ
Global LBS Challenge in conjunction with key wireless industry trade shows in
North America and Europe. A developer contest created to catalyze growth in
the location-based services industry, the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge
encourages developers to build location-enabled applications for wireless
devices.
The NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge was first launched in North America in
October 2003 and was focused on driving the development and visibility of
innovative navigation solutions for wireless devices. The second annual
contest expanded the potential contestant base beyond North America to include
developers from around the world and introduced six solution categories to
encourage application developers to explore new and creative location-enabled
solutions. NAVTEQ's decision to proceed with the contest for a third year
stems from industry validation of the value the Challenge has created for the
LBS industry overall. Both the first and second annual Challenges were met
with overwhelmingly positive feedback from all participants in the LBS value
chain -- participating developers, sponsors and wireless carriers.
Representatives from many of the top wireless carriers will once again
serve as judges of the Challenge as the contest moves into its third year.
"Personally, I find tremendous value in serving as a judge in the LBS
Challenge," said Joe Averkamp, Director -- Business Development, Sprint. "As
an industry, we're all focused on providing our customers with useful and
innovative applications and NAVTEQ is doing a great job of bringing the
application community together with this competition to recognize those top
LBS applications." Dale Beasley, LBS Product Manager for Verizon Wireless,
who also served as judge in the second annual LBS Challenge, commented, "The
NAVTEQ LBS Challenge is helping the industry immensely. NAVTEQ is helping to
'push' the industry to a new level, just by getting the word out about
location-based services."
For the solution developers, the Challenge represents a unique and prized
opportunity to showcase their applications to the most critical players in the
LBS value chain: the wireless carriers. "The NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge has
given uLocate incredible exposure with both carriers as well as perspective
partners. It is the perfect opportunity to grow our business," said Jon
Finegold, Director of Business Development for uLocate, a runner up in the
first LBS Challenge. The 2003 LBS Challenge grand-prize winner and 2004
Gaming/Location-Based Imaging category winner, Networks in Motion, recognizes
the Global LBS Challenge as a critical driver of the LBS category awareness.
"The Wireless LBS Challenge was a seminal event for Networks In Motion and the
LBS industry. It brought cell phone based LBS to national attention, and
helped launch an industry that will fundamentally change the way people travel
and interact in a mobile environment," said Stephen Petilli, Chairman and
Executive Vice President of Business Development, Networks In Motion.
Noted Konny Zsigo, President of the WirelessDeveloper Agency, "There is
not a single company that has raised the profile and the location based
industry more than NAVTEQ has with the LBS Challenge."
The NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge is expected to officially begin this fall.
More information about the third annual NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge including
contest rules, key dates and milestones will be available in the upcoming
months. For more information about last year's NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge,
visit the LBS Challenge web site at: http://www.lbschallenge.com .
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for
automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices and Internet-based
mapping applications. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that
power navigation and location-based services solutions around the world. The
Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 1,500
employees located in over 100 offices in 20 countries.
NAVTEQ is a trademark in the U.S. and other countries.
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