Taubman Launches Pioneering Shopping and Navigation App at The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, Florida

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Finding stores, styles and sales at Taubman's new Mall at University Town Center (UTC) is easier and more personalized than ever before thanks to the free "Mall at UTC" iOS mobile shopping app that offers first-of-its-kind indoor navigation technology developed by SPREO. The app is being piloted at UTC now, but is scheduled to roll out to Taubman properties across the U.S. over the next year.  

iMedia's 2013 "Mobile Agency of the Year," MXM created the free app that incorporates SPREO's proprietary, real-time, mall-based navigation that is powered by Bluetooth beacons. In perhaps the most extensive use of Bluetooth in any mall worldwide, the app also remembers favorite stores and delivers personalized maps, style inspiration, sales and promotions right to the phones of shoppers.

"Our new mobile app changes the shopping experience, bringing mall navigation and personalization to the forefront like never before," said Ivan Frank, director of digital marketing for Taubman. "Taubman is pleased to be the leader in bringing this technology to shoppers to enhance their in-mall experience."

SPREO Co-Founder and CEO Avi Sacajiu said, "Through our work with Taubman, we are leading the way in using radio frequency signals for precise navigation in large, multi-level spaces like The Mall at University Town Center. This is truly a unique amenity for shoppers."

The "Mall at UTC" app is now available through the Apple App Store with an Android version launching soon. Shoppers can "Map It, Plan It and Love It" using the technology in the following ways:

Map It:
Easily locate stores, restaurants and entertainment as you shop.

• With Bluetooth on, the "Map It" screen recognizes your location within seconds;
• Click to view the location of any store – and then click again for directions to that store from your current location;
• Navigation directions then appear, helping you navigate step by step and floor by floor to your destination.

Plan It:
Plan your shopping trip in advance, to get the most out of your visit.

• Add stores to your "Plan It" trip itinerary to make shopping a breeze. You can add stores to your itinerary any time by clicking on the "Plan It" icon.

Love It:
Save your favorite stores for quick information and a personalized experience.

• When you first install the app, you will be asked to mark your favorites;
• The app offers recommendations, including a personal "inspiration board" driven by your "Love It" favorites and their related stores;
• And you can customize your map simply by pressing the "Love It" filter so that only your "Love It" stores appear.

The "Mall at UTC" app continues Taubman's commitment to bringing the latest high-tech, customer-focused amenities to shoppers. In addition to the new app, UTC also features the Sarasota Visitors Center, electric car charging stations, free Wi-Fi, interactive touchscreen directories and numerous charging stations for electronics. UTC is the only newly built, enclosed regional shopping center to open in the United States in 2014.

About The Mall at UTC
The Mall at UTC opened Oct. 16, 2014. Located at I-75 and University Parkway, this world-class fashion and dining destination features approximately 880,000 square feet of retail space with Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Dillard's and more than 100 specialty stores and restaurants. Showcasing many distinctive retailers not found anywhere else in the local market, the center offers visitors a diverse mix of upscale, fashion and lifestyle retailers, popular favorites, sit-down restaurants and a children's play area. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For holiday hours, information and updates, visit www.mallatutc.com. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MallatUTC. 

About SPREO
SPREO uses Bluetooth (BLE) beacon and Wi-Fi signal fingerprinting, inertial sensor fusion, map constraints and other data inputs to provide the first complete, integrated platform for step-by-step indoor navigation, location based marketing and analytics. SPREO technology features a proprietary indoor location algorithm with unrivaled sub-meter accuracy. SPREO works with large venues and agencies to integrate SPREO technology into consumer apps via SDK, and it serves as the foundation for location based services and applications for apps spanning many industries, including retail shopping centers, hospitals, security, education, transportation, hospitality, entertainment and more. To learn more, visit www.SPREO.co and follow us on Twitter @SPREOco.

About Taubman
Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) is an S&P MidCap 400 Real Estate Investment Trust engaged in the ownership, management and/or leasing of 21 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. Taubman's U.S.-owned properties are the most productive in the publicly held U.S. regional mall industry. Taubman is currently developing five properties in the U.S. and Asia totaling 4.7 million square feet. Taubman, with more than 60 years of experience in the shopping center industry, is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Taubman Asia is headquartered in Hong Kong. www.taubman.com.

For ease of use, references in this press release to "Taubman Centers," "company," "Taubman" or an operating platform mean Taubman Centers, Inc. and/or one or more of a number of separate, affiliated entities. Business is actually conducted by an affiliated entity rather than Taubman Centers, Inc. itself or the named operating platform.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Actual results may differ materially from those expected because of various risks and uncertainties.  You should review the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports, for a discussion of such risks and uncertainties.

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