Webraska and ACUNIA to Cooperate to Port Internet-based Distributed Navigation(TM) on Open Java(TM) in Vehicle Platforms
21 December 2000
Webraska and ACUNIA to Cooperate to Port Internet-based Distributed Navigation(TM) on Open Java(TM) in Vehicle Platforms
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., LEUVEN, Belgium and POISSY, France, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/
-- Webraska, the worldwide provider of wireless navigation services and
technologies, and ACUNIA (formerly SmartMove), the leading next-generation
telematics technology provider, have announced their cooperation to port
Webraska's IbDN(TM) (Internet-based Distributed Navigation(TM)) patented
technology in the ACUNIA telematics environment for use in the automotive
industry.
Webraska will use the ACUNIA Service Development Kit (SDK) to develop and
implement a distributed navigation service for use on an ACUNIA-enabled
telematics platform. With this agreement, each hardware platform compatible
with the ACUNIA technology will automatically be able to host Webraska
navigation services.
Webraska's Internet-based Distributed Navigation(TM) technology allows car
manufacturers to combine the wealth of data and functions present on or
interfaced through Webraska's Global Navigation Server(TM), with the
information and functions generated by an in-car terminal. They can also be
linked to any application, Internet provider or external database. The result
is optimized dynamic navigation including vocal turn-by-turn directions taking
into account events in real-time such as traffic conditions and road changes
that are always up-to-date, available worldwide without the need to change
CDs, with personalization and continuity of service to mobile phones, PDAs,
the office or the home.
ACUNIA is known worldwide as the developer of the Open Telematics
Framework (OTF), the first fully-functional, end-to-end, Java-based open
software design for the entire telematics pipeline. Its single-platform,
protocol-neutral, lightweight architecture has won industry acclaim because it
can be quickly and easily upgraded on-the-fly to add services and accommodate
new technologies.
"Webraska's objective is to offer to the automotive industry worldwide
availability of its wireless navigation distributed in-car services and server
technologies, on platforms that the car manufacturers and their partners will
select", says Bruno Bourguet, General Manager for the Webraska Automotive
Group. "We like the structured and open approach of the ACUNIA technology
platform as it facilitates the roll out and evolution of in-vehicle wireless
applications and services."
"Navigation services are among the most requested services by the end
users in the vehicle environment," says Steven Buytaert, co-CEO at ACUNIA.
"We are happy that the technology and services of Webraska, a worldwide leader
in this field, will soon be available in our technology environment. This
will be of great benefit to our customers in their endeavor to offer drivers a
full range of useful services." The first pilot program with a car
manufacturer is planned for the beginning of 2001.
About Webraska
Webraska is the worldwide provider of wireless navigation, mapping and
traffic information services and technologies for telecom operators and car
manufacturers. Webraska's revolutionary IbDN(TM) (Internet-based Distributed
Navigation) or Personal Navigation Suite(TM) is used by leading mobile
operators and car manufacturers around the world, including SFR, KPN,
Belgacom, Airtel, Orange and VoiceStream, to offer wireless navigation
applications carefully crafted to make the best out of each access mode (WAP,
Internet, SMS, IVR, Java technology-enabled phones, PDA, Call Centre, car
equipment).
Webraska's offering also includes a ready to use Global Navigation
Database(TM), a carrier-grade Global Navigation Server(TM) platform that
already supports millions of subscribers, and a unique Personal Navigation
API(C) that allows carriers and their partners to location- and navigation-
enable all their applications (such as location-based services, m-commerce,
games, city guides, fleet management, mobile Extranet, etc.). Webraska's
industry-leading partners include Phone.Com, SignalSoft, Alcatel, Sagem,
Schlumberger, Cellpoint, CT Motion and CPS.
The company is headquartered in Poissy, France and has offices and teams
in London, Brussels, Madrid, Rotterdam, Milan, Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore,
Melbourne and Montreal. For more information visit: http://www.webraska.com .
About ACUNIA
Founded in 1996 (as SmartMove), ACUNIA is the leading next-generation
telematics technology provider, holding several international patents in the
field of vehicle telematics.
Headquartered in Leuven (Belgium), the company employs about 100 people,
most of them engineers. The company's U.S. subsidiary, ACUNIA USA, INC. is
located in Cambridge, Mass.
The ACUNIA Service Development Kit (SDK) is a set of software tools that
allow Service Providers to quickly and easily create, adapt and manage their
services. They can register and operate their services through the Java
Application Program Interfaces (APIs) that are part of the kit. These APIs
give them access to the Open Telematics Framework, the information pipeline to
the vehicle. For more information visit: http://www.acunia.com .