BIOS: Technology Means Business

Destinator Technologies has released Destinator 6, its latest mobile navigation solution for PDAs. The software is now even easier to use thanks to the revised user interface and ‘Routing-Engine’ that shows the way quickly and reliably, claims the company.

Destinator 6 is one of the first mobile solutions to interpret the freely available traffic information which is transmitted by radio signal as well as the much more up-to-date and comprehensive encrypted data transmitted by TMC-Pay-Service providers. This means that traffic congestion can be avoided more or less in real time. You can even optimise your routing when having to reach multiple destinations during the same trip.

Destinator 6’s new ‘Map-Engine’ should help to ensure a crystal clear and extremely fast map display both in 2D and especially in 3D mode. The layout clarity of this mode has been increased by displaying the town and street names. The user interface is completely finger operable - styluses have been made redundant.

A full keyboard is now used to enter street names instead of using a mobile phone type keyboard. The search is supported by a fast search algorithm which automatically completes the names as they are entered and shows the results in a list.

When entering only a town’s name you will automatically be guided to the town centre. Support for high end devices with VGA resolution of 640x480 pixels has been enhanced to deliver the best visual experience.

Destinator 6 is one of the first mobile navigation solutions that displays TMC-Pay-Service information on PDAs with no monthly or annual fees. Currently it supports the TMC pro Service from T-Systems in Germany and the Trafficmaster pay service in the UK.

This system uses traffic information which is gathered, for example, by vehicles equipped with transmitters (floating cars), by sensors built into streets or by data cameras installed on bridges. This data is transmitted in ‘real-time’ to the navigation device by specialist providers as a premium service. As with this freely available traffic information, this data is transmitted via radio signal but it is encrypted and can only be used if the appropriate licence has been purchased.

Destinator Technologies offers this service for a once-only licence fee which is already included in the purchase price of the product - no further costs are incurred. TMC services of other countries can be used thanks to the new ‘TrafficSam’ technology - TrafficSam allows the use of TMC services with Destinator 6 for PDAs across borders without additional costs in accordance with the ‘once purchased - use everywhere’ principle.

A pre-requisite for this function is, as with the use of free TMC services, an RDS capable TMC receiver. Destinator 6 with TrafficSam will be offered as a separate Destinator Technologies product.

Destinator 6’s unique ‘Trip-Planner’ allows commercial users such as delivery drivers or sales representatives to reach multiple destinations by the shortest route. Routes can be entered randomly and are then sorted using the ‘optimise route’ function.

POIs from third parties can be easily imported into Destinator 6 using the new interface. Drivers can have their attention drawn to points of interest, like hotels, petrol stations, restaurants or pharmacies by verbal or visual prompts.

Destinator 6 for PDAs will be available for purchase by the end of April 2006. The map data will cover the whole of Europe including Eastern Europe and will be based on the latest Q1/2006 (NAVTEQ) map edition. The retail price of Destinator 6 will be around £99.99, Destinator 6 with TrafficSam will be available at approximately £139.

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