SAIC Launches New Generation Navigation Service

DAYTON, OH - SAIC announced the launch of a voice-enabled, personal navigation system to provide drivers with turn-by-turn directions with the effects of real-time traffic conditions. This new SAIC navigation service enables drivers to access speech-based directory assistance and directions using commercially available PocketPC Phones or Smart Phones. SAIC will offer the new service on a turnkey basis to telematics service providers, wireless telecommunications carriers and enterprise fleets. Subscribers using the SAIC navigation service will receive turn-by-turn instructions from audio prompts coupled with a graphical map display on a PocketPC Phone or Smart Phone. To enable this service, SAIC incorporated technology from Webraska Mobile Technologies and Telelogue, Inc. As overall systems integrator for the service, SAIC operates and maintains the server infrastructure which includes Webraska's SmartZone Navigation Suite and Telelogue's Voice Directory Assistance™ (VDA). All voice recognition and route calculations are conducted on the SAIC servers and transmitted to the customer's PocketPC Phone or Smart Phone using commercial wireless data services. "Our goal was to integrate available technologies into an affordable turn-by-turn navigation and accurate travel time prediction service which incorporates traffic conditions and incidents," said Glen Courtright, manager for SAIC Telematic Solutions. "We look forward to working with our customers to help enterprises with large commercial service, delivery or sales fleets reduce drive times, improve customer satisfaction and increase their efficiency." The SAIC navigation service is now available for the U.S. market. It is compatible with commercially available PocketPC Phone and Smart Phones for off-board implementations and can also be integrated into conventional in-vehicle navigation systems or existing dispatch and fleet management systems.