Nokia signalled its intentions to include location technology into its Nseries handsets with the acquisition of German route-planning software developer Gate5.
Nokia says it intends to offer maps, routing, navigation and other location-based applications on its mobile devices.
Gate5 has produced route-planning software since the late 1990s and has developed software for several platforms including in-car solutions for Volkswagen and Daimler-Chrysler. However, it’s the smart2go software for Symbian smart phones that sparked Nokia’s interest in the company.
Nokia’s multimedia chief Anssi Vanjoki said the smartphone-based satnav market hasn’t developed as quickly as Nokia had hoped, but Nokia expects it to reach 15m units in 2006, compared with 8m in 2005
Nokia has existing arrangements with other satnav partners – TomTom, Route 66 and Telmap among them – and the Gate5 deal will not affect these relationships “directly”.
Meanwhile the forthcoming Nokia N95 features built-in GPS and digital map data and dynamic location content from Tele Atlas.
Users get free basic mapping and routing functionalities to initiate local searches for more than 100 countries, plus over 15m points of interest and optional upgrades to full navigation features. The N95 also has WiFi, a 5mp camera, HSDPA and dual mode (standard/landscape) menu.
Nokia’s multimedia chief Anssi Vanjoki said the smartphone-based satnav market hasn’t developed as quickly as Nokia had hoped, but Nokia expects it to reach 15m units in 2006, compared with 8m in 2005
Nokia has existing arrangements with other satnav partners – TomTom, Route 66 and Telmap among them – and the Gate5 deal will not affect these relationships “directly”.
Meanwhile the forthcoming Nokia N95 features built-in GPS and digital map data and dynamic location content from Tele Atlas.
Users get free basic mapping and routing functionalities to initiate local searches for more than 100 countries, plus over 15m points of interest and optional upgrades to full navigation features. The N95 also has WiFi, a 5mp camera, HSDPA and dual mode (standard/landscape) menu.