Networks In Motion and TELUS Launch TELUS Navigator and Kid Find, New Location-Based Services Using Real-Time GPS
Networks In Motion, the award-winning wireless navigation and location-based services (LBS) company based in Irvine, Calif., and TELUS, a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, today launched TELUS Navigator, which provides all the features of an advanced car navigation system from the palm of clients’ hands, and TELUS Kid Find, a service for parents to locate their children while they’re away from home using a secure Web site or select mobile phones.
“We are pleased to be the launch partner for TELUS’ new location-based services, which enable clients to enjoy all of the features of an advanced car navigation system on their mobile phone at a fraction of the price of other GPS devices and systems,” said Doug Antone, president and CEO for Networks In Motion. “We expect navigation and child location to become as ubiquitous as camera phones, because most people discover that finding locations or people simply and easily is a convenience they don’t want to be without.”
“With Navigator and Kid Find, consumers get increased peace of mind whether on the road, at the park or going trick or treating,” said Robert Blumenthal, TELUS senior vice-president of products and services. “TELUS, through its SPARK line-up of information, entertainment and messaging services, is constantly developing innovative new solutions that bring the information clients need to the palm of their hand, adding simplicity and security to their hectic lives.”
TELUS Navigator, based on Networks In Motion’s NAVBuilder™ JAVA location-based services (LBS) platform, provides voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions with auto-rerouting if customers miss a turn. It also enables local searches of nearly 1.5 million points of interest (POIs) in Canada and detailed color maps that can be quickly panned and zoomed. Available immediately, TELUS Navigator operates on the Samsung A950 and uses TELUS’ GPS solution, which combines the accuracy of traditional GPS technology with network-based location technology to provide customers with driving directions in real-time. More phones will support the service in the near future.
TELUS Kid Find allows parents with select TELUS mobile phones to locate their children in real-time, on an interactive map through their mobile phone or online at mytelusmobility.com. The service’s interactive maps are updated frequently and allow parents to zoom in to see their child’s location relative to landmarks.
Kid Find protects users’ privacy with necessary pass codes and mandatory permission requirements. Only clients who are payment responsible for the account or have been given permission to manage the account can access location information.
Individuals being located will be notified by a flashing GPS indicator on their mobile phone’s screen each time a location request is sent to their phone. Additionally, when Kid Find has been activated by the account holder, a one-time notification will be sent to the handset being tracked. Kid Find can be temporarily deactivated by shutting the handset off or disabling the GPS status.
Navigator and Kid Find now operate throughout TELUS’ 1X Digital PCS coverage area in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe region, which stretches from Oshawa to Kitchener, and Barrie to St. Catharines. It is expected to be deployed throughout Canada in the future. To activate the services, Canadian consumers can visit mytelusmobility.com or an authorized TELUS retail location.
About Networks In Motion
Networks In Motion™ (NIM) is an award-winning Wireless Navigation and LBS Company, with products that are built on a foundation of strategic patents, scalable and extensible server network, advanced mapping technology and integration with emerging wireless and positioning technologies. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. More information is available at http://www.networksinmotion.com.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $8.4 billion of annual revenue and 10.4 million customer connections including 4.7 million wireless subscribers, 4.6 million wireline network access lines and 1.05 million Internet subscribers. The company’s strategic intent is to unleash the power of the Internet to deliver the best solutions to Canadians at home, in the workplace and on the move. TELUS provides customers with a wide range of wireline and wireless communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video services. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.
