NAVTEQ Celebrates 25 Years at the Forefront of the Industry

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, is celebrating 25 years at the forefront of the development of digital maps and location content.  The company began operations in 1985, and today holds over 400 patents and supplies data to over 1700 customers worldwide.

NAVTEQ is recognized as a leader who anticipated and brought to market products which have shaped the industry.  The company invested in the development of a fully navigable digital map database envisioned for in-car navigation years in advance of available systems to utilize the data.  NAVTEQ helped advance the emergence of location-based services, including enabling Internet-based map portals and pioneering the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge® to support developers in their efforts to build location-enabled applications.  And NAVTEQ is acknowledged as a driving force in the development of the data technologies needed to support vehicle Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

The company has also played a key role in a multitude of other "firsts:"

• Map data provider for the first in-car GPS navigation system
• The first digital map with coverage on all 6 continents, as well as the first coverage in South Africa and the Middle East (United Arab Emirates)
• The first company to offer a means for community map feedback (today known as NAVTEQ Map Reporter™)
• The first data provider in North America to deliver real-time traffic linked to the map in an in-car navigation system

NAVTEQ has built its reputation on not only the quality of its data, but also the support the company provides to its customers.  Today, operations span 211 offices in 48 countries.  And NAVTEQ continues to innovate, from new collection technologies like NAVTEQ True™ to new ways to do business, like the introduction of advertising-supported services through NAVTEQ LocationPoint™ Advertising. NAVTEQ is proud to provide the broadest range of location content to support consumer and business applications.

"This is truly an important milestone for NAVTEQ, and one we are happy to share with both our employees and our customers," stated Larry Kaplan, president and CEO of NAVTEQ.  "As we look to the future, location content can only continue to grow as a driving force behind new industries and new consumer experiences, and we plan to remain on our path of revolutionizing what is possible."

In honor of this anniversary, NAVTEQ has made a $25,000 donation to UNICEF in support of the world's children.

About NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data (digital location content) enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world.  NAVTEQ was founded in 1985 and now supplies comprehensive digital location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions.  The Chicago-based company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, proudly supported by approximately 5,000 employees located in 211 offices in 48 countries.

NAVTEQ, NAVTEQ True, Global LBS Challenge, NAVTEQ LocationPoint, and Map Reporter are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved.

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SOURCE NAVTEQ