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Nextel Offers First Real-Time Turn-by-Turn GPS Navigation Application on BlackBerry Platform
10 May 2005
TeleNav(TM) GPS Navigation is first in series of location-based service applications available from Nextel on the BlackBerry 7520(TM)
Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL - News), TeleNav Inc. (formerly Televigation), and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM - News) are now offering TeleNav's GPS Navigation, a Java-based GPS navigation application that offers visual and audible, turn-by-turn driving directions and mapping, on the BlackBerry 7520 Wireless Handheld(TM). TeleNav GPS Navigation is the first GPS application available on the BlackBerry platform with real time turn-by-turn GPS navigation and the first in a series of location-based services that will be offered to Nextel customers on BlackBerry® via Nextel's Nationwide Digital Wireless Network.
TeleNav, which is similar to the in-car GPS navigation systems found in luxury vehicles, displays maps, graphical driving cues, speed, and direction, and provides audible turn-by-turn directions to help drivers get to their desired locations directly. Customers have greater flexibility with TeleNav on BlackBerry because the device is portable and travels with the user. It is also easier to maintain because TeleNav automatically updates the map information to ensure the most current driving instructions. Nextel's assisted-GPS (A-GPS) technology and data service for BlackBerry support outstanding performance so the customer can quickly get driving directions and update them automatically, even when the driver misses a turn and immediately needs a new route to his or her destination.
TeleNav features enhanced applications that are not found in conventional GPS navigation systems, including an interactive voice response system, which can be used to input a destination, airport code location information, Business Finder, or lowest price gas station locator, as well as offering multilingual capabilities for Spanish, Russian, French, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Portuguese and Mandarin. In addition, TeleNav GPS Navigation offers the ability to seamlessly use the addresses and locations stored in a user's BlackBerry address book.
"Nextel was the first wireless carrier to offer A-GPS on our handsets and is the recognized leader in the industry. As more and more of our customers realize how beneficial it is to help them instantly get directions or to locate assets, enhancing BlackBerry GPS-capable handhelds with Nextel's A-GPS was a natural next step for us," said Greg Santoro, vice president, products and solutions. "TeleNav is one of our more popular A-GPS applications, and we are pleased to extend our relationship with them beyond our handsets. Together, Nextel, RIM and TeleNav will continue to drive the GPS navigation market by incorporating advanced mobile applications into the BlackBerry platform at a price consumers and businesses can afford."
"Location-based services offer a powerful and complementary set of benefits on the BlackBerry platform, and we are very pleased to work with Nextel to enable these services on the BlackBerry 7520," said Mark Guibert, vice president Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. "TeleNav's GPS navigation solution offers BlackBerry 7520 customers another excellent opportunity to increase productivity and improve the mobile employee experience."
"Adding TeleNav's services to the GPS-enabled BlackBerry platform further enhances convenience and productivity," said Dr. HP Jin, president and CEO of TeleNav. "Users of the BlackBerry 7520 from Nextel no longer need to rely on cumbersome maps or printed online directions to get to their required destinations. TeleNav is an affordable, simple-to-use service that saves mobile professionals time, and helps them reduce the hassles and stress of business travel."
The GPS-enabled BlackBerry 7520 supports the audible and visual turn-by-turn directions service provided by the TeleNav service. The BlackBerry 7520 allows users to receive audible directions and information via speakerphone or through Bluetooth®-enabled car kits and headsets. TeleNav costs $9.99 a month for unlimited use and the charge appears on customers' Nextel bills. New customers who sign-up for TeleNav can use the service free of charge for the first 30 days. Additional data service charges from Nextel may apply.
For more information on how to subscribe to TeleNav on the BlackBerry 7520 go to www.nextel.com/backberry or www.telenav.com or call 1-800-Nextel9 or 88 TELENAV 4.
About Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500 companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 US markets where approximately 261 million people live or work.
About TeleNav (Formerly Televigation)
TeleNav is the leading provider of wireless location-based services, which include GPS navigation and Mobile Resource Management. Televigation's technology can deliver feature-rich motion-based services over standard mobile phones and other wireless devices.
The company's flagship product, TeleNav, is a navigation service similar to the GPS systems found in luxury vehicles, but integrated into mobile phones, costing a fraction of the price. TeleNav was awarded first prize in the business and productivity category for TeleNavTrack, their Mobile Resource Management solution, at the Motorola's Developer contest at JavaOne 2003.
For more information on TeleNav's wireless location-based navigation and Mobile Resource Management products, please visit the company's web sites at www.telenav.com or call 88 TELENAV 4.
About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM - News) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM - News). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM's products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM's periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. The Company has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
RIM assumes no liability and makes no representation, warranty or guarantee whatsoever in relation to third party products mentioned herein. The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.
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Contact:
Nextel Communications Inc., Reston
Margaret Brown, 703-433-4904
margaret.brown@nextel.com
or
Investor Contact:
Paul Blalock, 703-433-4300
paul.blalock@nextel.com
or
RIM
Brodeur for RIM
Courtney Flaherty, 212-771-3637
cflaherty@brodeur.com
or
RIM Investor Relations:
519-888-7465
investor_relations@rim.com
or
TeleNav
LEWIS PR for TeleNav
Noah Dye/Katie Assar, 619-516-2559
telenav@lewispr.com
or
TeleNav Company Contact:
Sal Dhanani, 206-686-9393
bd@telenav.com
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Source: Nextel Communications Inc.
Source: Business Wire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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