NAVTEQ, announced a new agreement which will allow
NAVTEQ to more rapidly deploy innovative collection capabilities and
accelerate the collection, creation and storage of 3D map data and
visuals. NAVTEQ and Microsoft have agreed to work together to support
technological advancements in this area, through which NAVTEQ will also
provide Microsoft Corp. with 3D map data and visuals to power new
mapping features.
NAVTEQ has consistently invested resources in bringing technological
innovation to the development of capabilities which deliver the highest
quality digital map data and enable the collection of advanced
attributes, such as road curvature and Advanced Driver Assistance
System (ADAS) geometry. The company has also been a long-time provider
of map data to Microsoft, having enjoyed a strong global business
relationship for the past ten years. With this new relationship NAVTEQ
elevates its alliance with a trusted collaborator to help advance
important 3D collection technologies which, when integrated into
NAVTEQ's broader proprietary data collection process, will support the
capture of a range of advanced navigable map features at an exceptional
level of accuracy and scale.
NAVTEQ
will be integrating these new technologies into its field collection
vehicles and the company's full roster of customers will be able to
benefit from this technology deployment. This will accelerate not only
the efficient integration of 3D visuals into the NAVTEQ map, but also
new product development which will reap benefits across the full range
of NAVTEQ's product portfolio. Microsoft will be able to deploy the
visuals generated through these efforts to their consumers via Bing
Maps.
"Microsoft is
extremely enthusiastic about this new chapter in its relationship with
NAVTEQ and is focused on bringing the mapping experience alive for our
consumers, using street level visuals powered by NAVTEQ," said Erik
Jorgensen, corporate vice president of MSN at Microsoft. "The
opportunity to work more closely with NAVTEQ and leverage our
respective technological strengths for the overall advancement of this
type of data collection is a true 'win- win' for both companies, and
for consumers."
"NAVTEQ
continues to believe that the quality of data collection, which
provides the building blocks for the underlying digital map in any
navigation or location-enabled device, is paramount to a superior user
experience. Microsoft shares this view, and openly welcomed the
opportunity to collaborate with NAVTEQ in new ways to accelerate the
development of technologies which we believe are crucial to the growing
expectations of consumers using NAVTEQ maps," stated Cliff Fox,
executive vice president, NAVTEQ Maps.