Fixed and portable navigation products continue to boost the mobile video and navigation category. According to CEA, revenues from aftermarket shipments of vehicle navigation equipment alone will exceed $150 million by 2007.

Consumers are getting excited about the integration of local traffic data with navigation services. Radio traffic broadcasts transmitted, at best, every 10 minutes can lag as much as a half-hour behind the actual condition, thus rendering the reports practically useless. Using real-time traffic reporting a navigation system can calculate a detour route that avoids traffic congestion.

XM NavTraffic, a subscription service of XM Satellite Radio powered by NA/VTEQ Traffic, is the nation's first satellite traffic data service. It provides in-depth traffic data for 20 major metropolitan cities across the nation. Using traffic icons, a driver quickly can identify accident locations, road closures and other incidents on the navigation map. The system also suggests alternate routes based on the current traffic conditions. The subscription price is $13.99 a month when bundled with XM Radio.

With a quick touch of the screen, Pioneer’s A/VIC-D1 can receive XM NavTraffic’s detailed list of traffic events, showing local road incidents sorted by traffic event or by distance. Traffic flow is displayed on the navigation screen with different colors – green, yellow and red. Green indicates traffic moving 40 mph or faster; yellow from 20 to 40 mph; and red at less than 20 mph. The nav unit uses a DVD-ROM drive to provide navigation information.

Sirius Satellite Radio also has signed an agreement with NA/VTEQ to offer consumers real-time traffic information in their vehicles. The company is expected to launch its service later this year.

Alpine's NVE-N872A DVD navigation system, which works in tandem with the company’s Real Time Traffic Data Receiver, won the 2005 International CES Innovations Award for the mobile/vehicle electronics navigation, safety and security category. The DVD-based system, powered by NA/VTEQ Traffic, provides real-time traffic updates on the screen every three minutes and alerts drivers to accidents and other obstructions with visual icons. Additionally, it simultaneously may display sports, stocks or weather information from the data stream.

As a result of a partnership with Siemens VDO Automotive, Tele Atlas and Clear Channel Communications, Audiovox has incorporated real-time traffic messaging into its vehicle navigation models.

 

 

Source: CEA Market Research, 1/05

The system works on an FM side band radio signal which utilizes Radio Data Service (RDS) technology. Digitized and coded, real-time traffic data then is fed to Traffic Message Channel-enabled Audiovox Navigation Systems, and the driver is notified instantly about traffic situations on his route.

Traffic “incidents” such as accidents, construction, police action, etc., are displayed in a pop-up window on the navigation screen. Icons are color-coded: gray indicates general road information; red for a traffic situation on the current route. There is no charge for activation of the Real Time Traffic system, and the first three months of service use are free. Consumers can purchase subsequent service contracts in one-year and two-year increments.

Navigation systems also are getting the auto industry’s attention, with 27 auto manufacturers offering navigation as standard or optional equipment. XM NavTraffic is currently available as a standard feature of the 2005 Acura RL, which debuted in fall 2004, and will be available on certain 2005 models of the Cadillac CTS.