Dash Launches Industry’s First Dynamic API Program at O’Reilly’s Where 2.0 Conference
Consumers Can Access Content From Their Favorite Internet Sites in the Car Using the Dash Express; Coldwell Banker, WeatherBug and Trapster Among Partners
Dash Navigation, Inc., the first internet-connected GPS device, today became the first GPS provider to open its service platform to third-party developers. For the first time, developers and content-providers can easily create dynamic applications, called DashApps, and provide Web-based content to consumers in the car.
In conjunction with the announcement, Dash unveiled the first five partner-created Dash Apps(a) that, with the touch of a button, help Dash drivers every day while on the road. Dash customers will have access to these powerful new applications via the MyDash portal (http://my.dash.net/) beginning on Thursday, May 15th:
- Hunting for the home of your dreams? Real estate leader and innovator Coldwell Banker allows consumers to search for homes with the “Coldwell Banker Home Search” button. It allows Dash drivers to access real estate listings and property details from their vehicle and instantly create a route to them.
- When and where is my meeting? Access calendar events, then dynamically route to meetings with Funambol’s “myFUNAMBOL Calendar” button. It allows Dash users access to their electronic calendars (from virtually any source, e.g. Outlook, Yahoo! and Google) from their Dash Express. Calendar items are updated automatically and users can route directly to any address listed.
- What’s that tune? Mediaguide enables Dash Drivers to easily find out the names of tunes playing on their radios. By simply taping the “BakTrax Radio” button, Dash users can see a list of the last three songs that just played on their favorite AM or FM stations.
- Speed trap ahead? Furthering Dash’s belief in the power of a driver network, the “Trapster Find Traps Now” button not only gives Dash Drivers access to Trapster’s information about live speed traps and red light sensors, but also enables Dash Drivers to contribute speed trap information back to other Trapster users in their area.
- Is it going to rain? Access live, local weather information with WeatherBug’s “MyWeatherBug” button. It provides Dash Drivers with up-to-the-second information about current and future weather conditions while on the road from the largest, most precise weather network in the world.
Content providers wishing to partner with Dash should contact the company at developer@dash.net.
Dash will be demonstrating the new applications and talking more about the dynamic API program at the Where 2.0 conference today. Chris Butler, content development evangelist for Dash, will be hosting a keynote presentation at 9:50 a.m. Press are welcome to attend.
Quote from Dash Navigation
< !-quote-!>quote:“Since the beginning, Dash has been focused on unlocking all the great geo-located content on the Web, taking it off your computer and delivering it where you need it most – in the car,” said Chris Butler, content development evangelist for Dash. “Dash is the first Internet-connected GPS company to open its service platform to developers and help consumers customize their GPS to their liking. These early applications are just the beginning – the possibilities are endless. The Dynamic API program is another step toward fulfilling Dash’s vision of developing the best GPS device for daily use.”< !-/quote-!>
(a) Content provided by third party developers through Dash’s dynamic API is not under the control of Dash and as such is not always guaranteed to be available.
Please contact Hillary Houser to arrange an interview with Dash or its API partners.
Quote from Coldwell Banker:
< !-quote-!>quote:“We’re proud to be the first real estate company to deliver its property listings to GPS users, and we are thrilled that the Dash Express has opened that door for us,” said Michael Fischer, senior vice president of marketing for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Our innovative relationship with Dash is a natural progression in our effort to have consumers engage with Coldwell Banker, literally.”< !-/quote-!>
Quote from Funambol:
< !-quote-!>quote:“The Dynamic API makes Dash the must-have navigation system”, said Fabrizio Capobianco, CEO of Funambol, Inc. “It makes it so easy for users to access really cool dynamic content that could never be used with a portable GPS before.”< !-/quote-!>
Quote from Mediaguide:
< !-quote-!>quote:“Music is such an essential element in the total driving experience,” said Paul Wright, senior vice president of strategic alliances and marketing for Mediaguide. “The Mediaguide powered BakTrax Radio service makes its quick and easy for Dash Drivers to find radio stations nearby and see what songs they have been playing to find their favorite music on the go. It also eliminates the common frustration of hearing a track you like, but having no idea who’s performing it.”< !-/quote-!>
Quote from Trapster:
< !-quote-!>quote:“The ability to use the Trapster service on a navigation system is a breakthrough for drivers. We have wanted to enter the GPS space since Trapster’s inception, and only Dash allows real time, two-way communication necessary to allow drivers to share speed trap information on the go. Real time information sharing is critical for Trapster because Police move the locations of speed traps by the hour,” said Peter Tenereillo, founder of Trapster. “Trapster and Dash are natural partners because both leverage the power of networks to help drivers dynamically share information that makes them smarter on the road.”< !-/quote-!>
Quote from WeatherBug:
< !-quote-!>quote:“Dash continues to be on the cutting edge for innovations in the personal navigation device space and we are extremely pleased to be chosen as the first weather provider to participate in their initial release of the Dash Express API,” said Christian Solomine, channel development manager, WeatherBug. “The open platform is the logical evolution for navigation devices. Live, dynamic content from WeatherBug is particularly well suited to this environment as it gives users the freedom to integrate, display and actively update content that is pertinent to them whether they are traveling away from home or as part of their daily commute.”< !-/quote-!>
About Dash Navigation, Inc.
Dash Navigation connects people to the information that empowers them in their cars. The company’s first product, the Dash Express™, is the first personal navigation system with two-way, Internet connectivity. It’s the smartest way to get from A to B–and get information about everything in between. Dash is located in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Skymoon Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Artis Capital and ZenShin Capital Partners. For more information, visit Dash Navigation at http://www.dash.net.
About Coldwell Banker:
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2007, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the eighth straight year and was also named the 2007 Inman News’ Innovator of the Year in the brokerage/franchise category. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,800 residential real estate offices and nearly 117,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. For more information, please visit http://www.coldwellbanker.com
About Funambol:
Funambol is the leading provider of Mobile 2.0 messaging, powered by open source. Funambol provides the #1 ad-funded open source push email and PIM sync solution, used by top-tier service providers, mobile operators, device manufacturers and ISVs around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.funambol.com
About Mediaguide:
Mediaguide monitors music and advertising on over 2,700 college, non-commercial and commercial radio stations in 150 US markets in real-time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Mediaguide uses its data & analysis to provide business insight to record labels, broadcasters and advertisers; and to support a music discovery and advertising network that connects radio to digital outlets & mobile devices. For more information, please visit http://www.mediaguide.com
About Trapster:
Trapster is the first and only smart, real time speed trap sharing social network. The high-tech equivalent of flashing headlights to warn other drivers, Trapster users warn each other, in real time, as they approach live speed traps with simple applications on mobile phones and other devices. Trapster learns the credibility of traps based on how many users agree on a location. It also learns the credibility of each user, over time, and rates the reliability of Trapsters within the network. Best of all, Trapster is FREE. For more information, please visit http://www.trapster.com
About WeatherBug
WeatherBug (http://weatherbug.com and http://weatherbugprofessional.com) is a trusted source of dynamic weather information enabling people worldwide to make more informed weather-related decisions. By combining its proprietary asset–the world’s largest, most dense network of live weather stations and cameras–with aggregated weather data from around the world, the WeatherBug Network delivers highly precise weather information for the most accurate, neighborhood-level weather available. Millions of consumers and professional organizations, including the National Weather Service, rely on WeatherBug to make more informed personal and mission critical decisions which safeguard lives, impact communities and improve business operations.
