Monday, November 16. 2009

Dutch to Tax Drivers Based on Driving Distance, Road Time using GPS

According to the Associated Press, the Netherlands will levy a tax based on the time spent driving in order to reduce congested highways. When the plan takes effect in 2012, a GPS monitoring system will track the distance, time, and place of drivers who will pay a few cents per kilometer. The tax replaces an annual road tax that amounts to approximately $900 per year for a mid-size car.

Tuesday, November 3. 2009

Podcast: With Geodata, Developers, not Consumers Rule

If consumers think of geodata as a commodity, what does that say for its future? What are the key data relationships? And what, if anything, will differentiate one offering from another? Our editors ponder these questions in light of evidence that consumers know and care little about who makes, manages and updates basemaps.

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Monday, November 2. 2009

TeleNav to File for IPO ($75 million)

- WSJ

Tuesday, June 9. 2009

TomTom to Team with Apple; Stock Jumps 17%

After some tough months I'm sure the folks at TomTom were pleased with the market response to the announcement made yesterday at Apple World Wide Developer Conference. For now, TomTom is the only nav developer to partner with Apple. The first app, and a car kit for the iPhone, is slated for release this summer, when further details and pricing will be shared. One analyst suggested a $50 price point, about the same level as TomTom's introductory hardware offering, though this is far above the price of most apps in the AppStore.

- Wall Street Journal

Tuesday, April 7. 2009

Podcast: Any Game Changers in LBS Yet?

Many announcements related to location-based services came out of the CTIA show last week, including winners of the NAVTEQ LBS Challenge. Were any truly game changing? Our editors look at the current state of LBS and what may be ahead.


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Tuesday, March 31. 2009

Mobile Patient Communcator - A PDA for the Patient During Doctor Visits

How does this sound to you?

Once registered, patients are notified of their exam room availability and provided a digital map with step-by-step directions. After unescorted self-rooming, they receive updates on their doctor's status. A large family medicine clinic at a nationally ranked healthcare provider is currently testing the MPC self-rooming application.

The Mobile Patient Communicator also provides videos and health quizzes while the patient waits. The device works based on wireless networks.

The developer, International Medical Solutions, says the device frees up nurses from "rooming patients" so they can spend more time with patients. I know in my/my Dad's healthcare world nurses don't to the escorting; it's the assistants who do the rooming and also take your temperature and blood pressure.

Based on the mazes I've followed in hospitals, I confess I'd rather have a personal escort and I really want my Dad to have one!

- press release