October 3, 2005

MapQuest and Blackberry team up for FindMe service

MapQuest who recently announced the launch of a MapQuest branded Automotive GPS unit (built by TomTom - see article), has announced the MapQuest Find Me service available through Sprint and Blackberry for the Blackberry 7520 wireless handheld operating on the NexTel network.

With this service, you'll be able to use the GPS-enabled phone to find their location, access maps and directions and locate nearby points of interest including airports, hotels, restaurants, banks and ATMs. MapQuest Find Me now allows users to share their location with colleagues, friends and family members as well as view the location of other users who have opted to join their private networks. Users also can now set up alerts to be notified when network members arrive or depart from a designated area.

"As more and more people understand how location-based services can enhance their quality of life, we will continue to see the demand for unique variations of this technology," said Mary Foltz, director of product management and development for Sprint. "We have a long-standing relationship with MapQuest and RIM and are pleased to extend this technology to our customers. The new MapQuest Find Me service is another example of Sprint's leadership in the GPS space, and we will continue to include it in our portfolio of wireless data solutions."

The new features are:

Location-Based Group Communication: Create private networks where other MapQuest Find Me users, such as colleagues, friends and family members, can opt-in to exchange and share their current locations. Users can find their network members on a buddy list-type feature and view their locations on a map, right on their wireless device or online at a private web site. This would be similar to the workings of the Garmin RINO FRS based GPS/walkie talkies, except on a larger scale.

Alerts & Notifications: Set up alerts to be notified via SMS or email when users (who opt-in to share their location) arrive or depart from a designated area.

The service will continue to offer:
Automatic Location Reporting: Leverage GPS technology to easily identify your current location without manually entering an address, ZIP code or other information.

Points of Interest Locator: Find hotels, conference centers, banks, restaurants, theaters and other points of interest based on their proximity to your current location or any U.S. address.

Interactive Maps and Driving Directions: Get interactive maps and text-based turn-by-turn directions to any destination in the United States.

Convenient Address Book: Store addresses or points of interest to save time when you need directions again. Update your Address Book on the Web and automatically refresh information on your wireless device.

More information see the MapQuest Find Me website.

Costs:
+ $5.99 per month. Includes 300KB of Data Access Service
+ $3.99 per month if Data Access is purchased separately