Die jetzt vereinbarte Zusammenarbeit mag Nutzer von Garmin- und Navteq-Software zwar erfreuen, aber langfristig ist es kein positives Zeichen, und wir müssen hoffen, daß T4A nicht irgendwann vom Riesen Garmin geschluckt wird und sich das ganze Service-und Preisgefüge für uns als Verbraucher zum Nachteil wandeln wird.
Siehe Pressemitteilung (bitte auch die Schönfärberei zwischen den Zeilen lesen):
Garmin includes Tracks4Africa data in new automotive navigation products
On 13 April 2011 Garmin Distribution Africa has announced that their new range of automotive navigators will be pre-loaded with Navteq data. This data set includes a subset of the Tracks4Africa data.
During the year 2009 Tracks4Africa entered into an agreement with Navteq which allows Navteq to include Tracks4Africa's unique outdoor content into a premium navigation data set for Africa. Tracks4Africa data brings recreational content such as hiking, biking and 4WD trails to the Navteq data set. It also includes many points of interest that enhances the user experience.
The Tracks4Africa Off-Road Guide was made available in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique in the first quarter of 2010 and yesterday Garmin has released their new Nuvi range of products with this premium data set.
The Navteq data includes a subset of the Tracks4Africa content that would give city navigators the best of both worlds, namely quality city navigation from Navteq and additional outdoor content from Tracks4Africa. This product would allow for a transition between city navigation and the fully fledged outdoor product, T4A GPS Maps.
The new Garmin product does however NOT include all the Tracks4Africa data and the more discerning traveller would still benefit from the full Tracks4Africa product which is updated and released twice a year. Tracks4Africa's GPS maps will still be available in stores and on the internet, offering the most comprehensive coverage of Africa possible. We shall also keep on developing printed maps.
T4A GPS Maps covers the entire Africa and is a truly unique traveller's map for serious overland travellers wishing to traverse the continent. It is the only GPS map that allows continuous navigation between Cape Town and Cairo, Timbuktu or even Casablanca in Morocco.
We are very excited by the inclusion of our data in the newly released Garmin devices and believe that this is the beginning of a new era for Tracks4Africa and Garmin. We are looking forward to building on this relationship with Garmin while we continue to bring travellers fresh, up to date content which is as unique as Africa.
Contact for more information:
Johann Groenewald
+27 83 295 7588
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Frequently asked questions relating to this announcement:
Who are Navteq?
NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ supplies precise, comprehensive location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has more than 5,400 employees located in 214 offices in 49 countries.
NAVTEQ has four offices in South Africa that build maps for the local market. These offices are located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban.
What is the difference between the Navteq product and the full Tracks4Africa product?
The product compiled by Navteq includes a subset of the Tracks4Africa data for countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana. The Tracks4Africa product, T4A GPS Maps, is far more comprehensive and contains unique content which is aimed directly at the more serious overland traveller in Africa. The coverage of T4A GPS Maps extends across the entire African continent.
Will T4A GPS Maps as a stand-alone product be affected by this announcement?
Yes, we believe so and it would be in a very positive way. T4A GPS Maps is a product which appeals to the serious traveller and to a large extend it is perceived as an 'off-road' product. The inclusion of some of the T4A content on a product which is aimed at general city use will indeed broaden the appeal of our content and both Garmin and Tracks4Africa stands to gain from this. The Tracks4Africa data includes a lot of content or places of interest which is accessible to people travelling in a normal car, and for only 16% of the roads on our maps you require a 4WD vehicle.
T4A GPS Maps which is far more comprehensive, will still be available as an after market product to existing Garmin users and we'll still advise serious overlanders to invest in this product because we believe that it still is the most comprehensive set of GPS data on Africa to be found anywhere. It is manufactured, distributed and supported by Tracks4Africa (Pty) Ltd.
