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Jan. 20, 2009
TeleNav Press Release:
TeleNav Shotgun GPS Navigation Device Automates Mileage Tracking for Business Travelers
TeleNav Shotgun customers now also have easy access to ratings and reviews for restaurants, cafés, hotels and more
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – January 20, 2009 – TeleNav, Inc., the largest wireless navigation services provider in North America, announced today that it has added new features to its recently launched TeleNav Shotgun, a two-way, Internet-connected GPS personal navigation device (PND) developed for business travelers. Customers can now track miles driven using TeleNav Shotgun, saving valuable time and resources they may have otherwise spent compiling expense reports. TeleNav Shotgun now also provides customers with ratings and reviews for various points of interest (POIs), including restaurants, hotels and shopping malls, and allows customers to rate the POIs directly from their device.
“Our team is constantly thinking about technology that we can create to make travelers’ lives easier,” said Sal Dhanani, co-founder and senior director of marketing for TeleNav. “Many of us are frequent travelers ourselves, so we know the pain. TeleNav Shotgun is not just another GPS device. It’s a business tool.”
Mileage capture and business reviews are available to any TeleNav Shotgun customer using TeleNav Connected ServiceSM. Mileage capture allows users to track miles driven with one click on their TeleNav Shotgun device. A driver can record mileage on specific routes or can simply start and stop tracking miles at any time when receiving turn-by-turn navigation or while in map ‘follow me’ mode. Users can attribute mileage captured to any client, job or other notation they choose. From their PC, they, or an assistant, can log into My TeleNav to view and download reports as Microsoft Excel or Adobe PDF files. Mileage information can remain available on My TeleNav for up to 24 months.
Additionally, before they head to a restaurant or make a reservation at a hotel, users can now check business ratings and reviews from their TeleNav Shotgun. A variety of POIs include reviews, such as bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, hospitals and museums. TeleNav Shotgun also allows users to rate businesses themselves directly from their Shotgun device.
TeleNav Shotgun is available for purchase on TeleNav’s Web site at www.telenav.com/shotgun or by calling TeleNav at 1 88 TeleNav 8 (1.888.353.6288). Current TeleNav Shotgun customers with TeleNav Connected Service will automatically receive an alert on their device to download the new features over the wireless network at no additional cost.
More on TeleNav Shotgun
Through TeleNav Connected Service, TeleNav Shotgun monitors traffic conditions along drivers’ routes in major areas and proactively searches for congestion or incidents. Users will be alerted to traffic delays, both audibly and on-screen, and can choose an alternative route to their location with one touch. Users can also access specific incident information and determine the traffic speed / flow of major highways along their route. TeleNav Shotgun even displays an updated estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on traffic, speeds and distance.
TeleNav Connected Service also provides access to up-to-date content (maps and local search data) so users do not have to separately download new information. TeleNav Shotgun comes with 11 million POIs, one of the largest databases of business listings available on a PND. Categories are easy to search and include a variety of locations, including restaurants, hotels, airports, Wi-Fi hot spots and regular gas price updates. Users can also type in the name of a specific business. Business listings include phone numbers, so customers can save money on 411 charges if they need to call ahead.
Users can also preplan trips, save addresses and manage accounts online at My TeleNav. Customers can save locations in their ‘My Favorites’ folder, which will be automatically downloaded on their device the next time it is turned on. Additionally, the new My TeleNav Internet browser plug-in for Internet Explorer®, Firefox® and Google® toolbars provides users an easy way to send addresses to their TeleNav Shotgun from any Web page. Users can simply highlight an address and click the TeleNav button on their toolbar. The address will be automatically added to My TeleNav for later use on the TeleNav Shotgun. Online access also means administrative assistants can help preplan business trips for the busy executives they support.
With the TeleNav Connected Service, TeleNav Shotgun users can take advantage of upgrades without having to purchase a new device1. Updates will be delivered via the wireless network, so users don’t have to deal with the hassle of connecting cables and downloading software on a PC.
Availability
TeleNav Connected Service includes real-time traffic alerts, Internet search with over 11 million business listings, updated maps, online preplanning, and access to selected new features when they are available.
Options for service plans include:
- 2 Year Plan: $239 (equivalent to $9.96 per month)
- 1 Year Plan: $129 (equivalent to $10.75 per month)
- Month to Month: $11.99 per month
Device owners not wishing to subscribe to TeleNav Connected Service following the three-month free period included with their purchase will be able to use the TeleNav Shotgun for GPS-enabled turn-by-turn navigation but will not have access to connected features such as real-time traffic and online preplanning.
Editor’s note: TeleNav Shotgun images, b-roll and a fact sheet are available for download at: http://www.telenav.com/about/pr-shotgun/.
1 New features may be packaged and sold differently and may require additional fees. Details will be available when new features are released.
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Media Contacts
Mary Beth Lowell
425-531-0122 phone
marybethl@telenav.com
Mark Burfeind
206-240-3970 phone
markb@telenav.com
Todd Witkemper
408-306-6677 phone
toddw@telenav.com
About TeleNav
TeleNav, Inc. is a leading provider of consumer location-based services (LBS), enterprise LBS and automotive LBS. TeleNav's solutions provide consumers, wireless service providers, enterprises and automakers with location-specific, real-time, personalized services such as GPS navigation, local search, mobile advertising, mobile commerce, location tracking and workflow automation. TeleNav's technology is available across more than 500 types of mobile phones, all major mobile phone operating systems and a broad range of wireless network protocols. TeleNav's service providers and partners include AT&T, Bell Mobility, Boost Mobile, China Mobile, Cincinnati Bell, Ford Motor Company, NII Holdings, Rogers, Sprint Nextel, Telcel, T-Mobile UK, T-Mobile USA, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Vivo Brazil.
For more information on TeleNav, please visit www.telenav.com. Follow TeleNav on Twitter at www.twitter.com/telenav or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telenav
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