Tele Atlas' Voice Enabled Maps Now Available On Market Leading In-Car and Portable Navigation Systems
BOSTON, May 17, 2006 -- Tele Atlas, a leading global provider of geographic content, today announced its phonetic data is now integrated in the newly-available Pioneer AVIC Z1 model in-car navigation and TomTom 910 portable navigation systems.
Tele Atlas' phonetic data increases the quality of speech technology used in map-based applications by providing more precise pronunciations of location and directional information. The phonetic data, critical in hands-free environments and created by Tele Atlas' own team of linguists, is the most complete available. It includes street and sign name data, administrative information for country, state, county, city and municipality levels, and points of interest in a range of pronunciations covering more than 10 European and North American languages. Navigation system users can focus their attention on the road as they listen to precise and highly accurate pronunciations for the map's locations and directions.
"Voice enabled maps improve route guidance because they are easy to use and understand," said Tele Atlas Global Product Marketing Vice President Basak Ozer. "This move is an important component of our strategy to deliver enhanced solutions to partners wanting to develop map-based systems with ever more natural and dynamically generated system-to-user dialogue."
About Tele Atlas
Founded in 1984, Tele Atlas delivers the digital maps and dynamic location content that power the world's most essential geographic solutions. The information is the foundation for a wide range of personal and in-car navigation systems, mobile and Internet map applications that help GPS system users find the places, products and services they need, wherever they are. Tele Atlas also works with business partners who deliver critical applications for emergency, business fleet and infrastructure services. The company employs 2,300 full-time staff and contract cartographers at offices in 20 countries around the world and uses a sophisticated network of thousands of sources to regularly update its maps. Tele Atlas is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TA6) and on Euronext Amsterdam (TA). For more information, visit http://www.teleatlas.com/.
About Pioneer Electronics USA Inc.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets. The company focuses on four core business domains including Blu-ray Disc, display technologies, navigation, Digital Network Entertainment(TM) and components.
About TomTom
TomTom NV is a leading provider of personal navigation products and services. TomTom's products are developed with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use and value. TomTom's products include all-in-one navigation devices which enable customers to navigate right out of the box; these are the award-winning TomTom GO family, the TomTom ONE and the TomTom RIDER. TomTom also provides navigation software products which integrate with third party devices; the TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDA's and TomTom MOBILE navigation software for smart phones. TomTom PLUS, is the location-based content and services offering for TomTom's navigation products. TomTom WORK combines industry leading communication and smart navigation technology with leading edge tracking and tracing expertise. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the United States of America, Australia, China and Taiwan. TomTom's products are sold through a network of leading retailers in 20 countries and online.