BusinessWeek: Paperless Map is Killer App

It’s a sort of review of how hot navigation is. Of note, the list of future possible acquistions:

Analysts say possible targets include TeleNav, which supplies navigation software to carriers, and its rival Networks In Motion of Aliso Viejo, Calif. Also in the spotlight is Kirkland (Wash.)-based Inrix, spun off from Microsoft in 2004. It supplies live traffic data on 55,000 miles of U.S. roads. Its sole competitor, Traffic.com, was bought earlier this year by Navteq, and is becoming part of Nokia.

All of those (save Traffic.com) I believe, have some relationship with deCarta.

A Celebrity Story’s Teachable Moment

Apparently word came out earlier this week that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were buying the “Ethopia” in Dubai’s constellation of islands called “The World.” Alas, no, it’s not true, reports a source. I don’t much care if it is or not. It prompts quite a few teachable moment questions:

Where is Dubai? Why is it making islands? How? How does it have money to do that?

Where is Ethiopia? Why would a story pop up that famous people are buying that country’s representation in Dubai?

NAVTEQ Gives Garmin Formal Deal Until 2015; Garmin Out of Bidding for Tele Atlas

The PR just popped up on the deal. While not mentioned in the release, Garmin has stated (Kansas City Star)  it will pull out of the bidding against TomTom to acquire Tele Atlas.

As I write this Garmin shares are up, Tele Atlas shares down.

Old Poll, New Poll

After receiving a surprising snail mail piece from a geo-company, I asked: Which are you most likely to respont to positively?

Eighteen readers responded.

67% - Neither, I ignore them all!
23% - E-mailed unsolicted geo communications
12% - Snail mail unsolicited geo mailings

So perhaps its best to pack in the stamps, at least for this crowd. Next up: What’s the most valuable thing you bring home from a geo-conference?