XM Radio and NAVTEQ Introduce XM NavTraffic: The Nation's First Satellite Traffic Information Service for Vehicle Navigation Systems
NEW YORK, April 7 -- NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW -- XM Satellite Radio , the pioneer and leader in satellite radio, today unveiled a groundbreaking new satellite data information service called XM NavTraffic. The service is powered by NAVTEQ Traffic, a new product from NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation systems. XM NavTraffic is the nation's first satellite traffic information service that enables a vehicle's on-board navigation system to display current traffic information for a driver's chosen route.
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XM NavTraffic will debut this fall as the provider of traffic data to the AcuraLink communication system that will be a standard feature on the all-new 2005 Acura RL. The state-of-the-art Acura Satellite Navigation System will provide drivers with real-time traffic information integrated with an in- vehicle navigation system, a first in North America.
"The XM NavTraffic information service provides the critical infrastructure side of Acura's advanced navigation capabilities," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
XM NavTraffic is designed to fully integrate with the vehicle's on-board navigation system to display current information about traffic incidents, average traffic speed along specific roadways, and estimated travel times based on traffic conditions. This information is delivered to the vehicle by the XM Radio satellites, which cover the U.S. from coast to coast. XM NavTraffic makes it possible for on-board vehicle navigation systems to provide continuously updated traffic information personalized for each driver's needs.
Later this year, General Motors is expected to offer XM NavTraffic as an optional integrated feature on select 2005 Cadillac CTS vehicles.
XM and NAVTEQ will demonstrate the XM NavTraffic service this week at the New York International Auto Show in Booth CP11 at the Crystal Palace in the Jacob Javits Center.
"XM NavTraffic, when integrated into vehicles, is a powerful tool for U.S. drivers to understand, anticipate, and avoid traffic congestion," said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio. "The XM NavTraffic technology will help bring personalized, route-specific traffic information further into the mainstream," Panero said.
XM NavTraffic provides the following traffic data to vehicles:
* Unscheduled traffic incident data, such as accidents and disabled
vehicles
* Scheduled traffic incident data, such as road construction and road
closures
* Traffic flow information (the actual speed data from road sensors)
* Alternate routes to avoid congestion and reach your destination faster
XM has partnered with NAVTEQ, which combines information from a variety of sources, including:
* Road sensors, which measure vehicle speed * Traffic camera information * Local government incident data * Road construction schedules from state departments of transportation
To deliver seamless traffic data for the XM NavTraffic service, NAVTEQ Traffic aggregates the data from multiple sources across the country, including the leading commercial traffic data providers, government departments of transportation, police & emergency services, road sensors, cameras and real-time aircraft reports. NAVTEQ Traffic performs extensive data quality processing to provide the most complete and accurate information feed of nationwide traffic. The traffic data is continuously broadcast via XM's network of satellites and ground-based repeaters, ensuring that the latest information is always available to the driver.
XM NavTraffic will be offered as a premium service with XM's 2004 line-up of 120-plus channels of commercial-free music and premiere news, sports, talk, and entertainment. Final pricing will be announced prior to launch. XM will broadcast nationally the traffic information for 20 markets this fall: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. XM and NAVTEQ plan to expand the service to cover additional markets in the future.
XM NavTraffic and NAVTEQ Traffic are setting the standard as the next- generation technology platform for traffic information, designed for flexible industry-wide adoption by automakers and aftermarket system manufacturers.
XM NavTraffic is the latest and most advanced technology offered by XM to help drivers deal with traffic problems. On February 28 the company launched XM Instant Traffic & Weather, an audio service that will offer 21 XM channels in 2004, each one dedicated to traffic and weather in a specific major market 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
XM Instant Traffic & Weather channels and the new XM NavTraffic system are two separate and distinct services. Instant Traffic channels offer in-depth audio reports about traffic and weather in a certain metro area. Instant Traffic channels were added to XM's basic channel line-up for no additional charge. Meanwhile, XM NavTraffic is a premium service that works with the vehicle's navigational system, representing the next generation in traffic data. XM NavTraffic provides real-time traffic information for a personal route, as well as personal travel times and alternate routes.
About XM Satellite Radio
In the fall of 2001, XM Satellite Radio pioneered the introduction of satellite radio in the U.S. Today, XM is America's #1 satellite radio service with more than 1.6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City and Nashville, Tennessee at the Country Music Hall of Fame, XM's 2004 lineup includes more than 120 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: 68 commercial-free music channels, featuring hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; 33 channels of premier sports, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and 21 channels of the most advanced traffic and weather information for major metropolitan areas nationwide. Affordable, compact and stylish XM satellite radio receivers for the home, the car, the computer and boom boxes for "on the go" are available from retailers nationwide. In addition, XM is available in more than 80 different 2004 car models. XM is a popular factory-installed option on more than 40 new General Motors models, as well as a standard feature on several top-selling Honda and Acura models. Avis customers can enjoy XM as a standard feature in the company's premium and luxury vehicles. Passengers on JetBlue Airways and AirTran Airways will be able to listen to XM's programming in-flight later in 2004. For more information about XM, visit http://www.xmradio.com/.
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the word. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and is privately held. The company's approximately 1,400 employees are located in over 100 offices in 18 countries. For more information, visit www.navteq.com.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for the Company's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-15-04. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio' s Investor Relations Department
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