aNewDomain — With most of us relying on our smartphones or in-car units for navigation, standalone GPS units are becoming less and less essential. In order to keep up with our evolving navigation needs, Magellan, a long-time leader in standalone GPS units, made two announcements at CES that keeps its technology on top of trends in navigation.
Smart GPS Navigation
Magellan announced that its SmartGPS Navigation application was selected by Jaguar Land Rover as one of the navigation applications for its InControl Apps platform. It also announced that the SmartGPS navigation software will soon be integrated into Bosch SoftTec’s mySPIN infotainment platform. These partnerships mark the first integration of Magellan’s SmartGPS smartphone navigation application into automotive OEM infotainment platforms.
The Magellan SmartGPS apps for Android and iOS are an extension of its SmartGPS Eco cloud platform. The current apps available on its website (for Android and iOS) partner with the SmartGPS units to conveniently send information to and from your smartphone. The new apps, due for release later in Q1 2015, will do much the same by communicating seamlessly with your in-car infotainment system.
Features of the SmartGPS system that will be integrated via these partnering platforms include turn-by-turn navigation with landmark guidance, real-time IP traffic, Yelp and Foursquare integration, social media check in options and last mile navigation. As you progress along your route, the SmartGPS app accesses the cloud to provide you with location-specific information presented in “squares” on your vehicle’s touch screen. When you tap on one of the squares, detailed information is displayed, including the contact information for the business, any available special offers, consumer reviews and an icon to seamlessly begin navigation to that location.
I think the most appealing feature is the turn-by-turn directions with landmark guidance. Instead of relying simply on street names, which may or may not have street signs, the system uses visible landmarks to aid your navigation and provide you added peace of mind that you’re headed in the right direction. This feature, along with real-time IP traffic, is available with a paid subscription.
Peter Virk, head of Connected Technologies and Apps at Jaguar Land Rover, when asked about the partnership with Magellan said,
Magellan brings a new navigation experience to the InControl Apps portfolio, providing an outstanding premium navigation option for our North American customers.”
Sharjeel Noor from Bosch SoftTec said of the SmartGPS application, “It provides users with a wide range of features that help them get to where they need to be quickly and safely.”
The Magellan SmartGPS navigation application will be available for compatible Jaguar Land Rover vehicles and for vehicles integrated with the Bosch mySPIN platform beginning in 2015.
The Magellan SmartGPS apps are free for Android and iOS and are scheduled for release by the end of Q1 2015. The MSRP for a one-year subscription for in-app purchase for turn-by-turn navigation with IP traffic is $19.99, while the MSRP for a three-year subscription is $49.99.
For aNewDomain, I’m Becket Morgan.
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Magellan
