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InfoGation Ships Odyssey Navigation Software For The Auto PC; Spoken Route Guidance and Innovative Map Display Give the Driver Safe, Hands-Free Operation

7 June 1999

InfoGation Ships Odyssey Navigation Software For The Auto PC; Spoken Route Guidance and Innovative Map Display Give the Driver Safe, Hands-Free Operation

    DENVER--June 7, 1999--InfoGation Corp. today announced the availability of Odyssey(TM) navigation software for the Auto PC, the first consumer application that lets a driver view and reliably track the car's location on a map display, set a destination, and listen to spoken turn-by-turn route guidance with exact street names.
    Odyssey supports the open Auto PC platform powered by the Microsoft Windows CE operating system. In a separate announcement today, Clarion Sales Corp. announced it will distribute Odyssey nationwide at all outlets where the Clarion AutoPC(TM) is available.
    The Clarion AutoPC integrates car audio, computing functions, and wireless communications in a unit that fits in the dash of an automobile. Odyssey works with a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receiver and the NAVTECH digital map database from Navigation Technologies Corp. and combines a turn-by-turn moving-map display with the AutoPC's speech interface for understanding the driver's voice commands and giving spoken route guidance.
    Jim Minarik, president and CEO of Clarion Corporation of America, said "Early testers of Odyssey have been telling us it is exactly what they want in their vehicles -- a first-class navigation system that is integrated with high-end car entertainment. We are proud to make Odyssey available to our Clarion AutoPC dealers as the newest member of the Auto PC family of products."
    Perry Lee, product manager, Productivity Appliances Division, Microsoft Corp., said, "InfoGation is one of the first companies to take full advantage of the open Auto PC platform and of Windows CE to bring innovative new applications like Odyssey to the consumer. We've worked with InfoGation since we started developing the Auto PC and we're pleased to see this advanced in-vehicle solution from its talented team."
    According to Dr. Kent Pu, president and CEO, InfoGation, "InfoGation's goal is to make a car navigation system that adds to driver safety and convenience. Odyssey's hands-free operation will help a driver reach his or her destination safely despite changing road conditions and busy traffic."

Features for the Way You Drive Now

    Mike Cagle, executive vice president of Century Design Inc. and a beta user, said, "I use Odyssey daily for both business and pleasure, but in my business it has become a real cost-saver because it saves me time and has made me more responsive. When I get an urgent call from a client, I no longer have to look up the location on a map, or consult with someone for directions. I just get in my car, give Odyssey the address, and off I go. This kind of responsiveness has already directly increased sales for my company."

    Odyssey includes a full range of features:

    -- Never Get Lost -- Odyssey uses the GPS signal to keep your
    car centered on the in-dash map. Say "Where am I?" and
    Odyssey responds with the city and street name.

    -- Never Miss a Turn -- A Turn-by-Turn box pops up on the
    display as you approach your next traffic maneuver.

    -- Never Unfold a Map While You Drive -- You can enter the
    street address of your destination or choose from a database
    that includes businesses, ATMs, hotels, restaurants, and
    more. Odyssey calculates the route for you. If you leave the
    route for any reason, Odyssey calculates a new route to your
    destination.

    -- Never Take Your Eyes Off the Road -- Odyssey reads you
    just-in-time directions as you approach each turn.

    -- Never Miss the Game Play-by-Play -- Odyssey lets you listen
    to the radio or a CD while you drive and still not miss a
    turn. It monitors the car's progress in background mode and
    interrupts only to announce your approaching turn.

    InfoGation, a leader in software for in-vehicle computing systems, developed Odyssey's exceptional user interface. A patent application has been filed to cover the technology in the map display design. Pu said, "The Odyssey development team has unmatched experience in building and integrating applications for the Auto PC. InfoGation was involved in the initial design of the platform and the company has been a major source of OEM software for the Auto PC."
    Odyssey makes full use of the NAVTECH map database. The database is a precise digital representation of the real-world road network and provides additional information such as speed ranges, road sign text and turn restrictions. The database also provides information about points of interest such as restaurants, hotels, ATMs, gas stations, and hospitals.

Price and Delivery

    Odyssey 1.0 is available immediately wherever the Clarion AutoPC is sold at a suggested retail price of $200. It uses the optional GPS receiver and Navigation Technologies map database available for the Clarion AutoPC.

About InfoGation

    InfoGation Corporation is a leading developer of software for the mobile computing market. It provides both OEM and consumer products for in-vehicle computing systems based on the open Auto PC platform powered by the Windows CE operating system. InfoGation collaborated with Microsoft and Clarion in the development of the Auto PC platform specification, wrote many of the device drivers for the original Clarion AutoPC, and was one of the first to deliver third-party applications for the platform. The privately held company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in San Diego, Calif. The InfoGation web site is www.infogation.com.

    InfoGation and Odyssey are trademarks of InfoGation corporation. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.