Portable Navigation Devices Made for Walking
Having taken the automotive market by storm, makers ofPortableNavigation Devices (PNDs) now are targeting the walkingpeople ofthe world, offering systems designed specifically to meetthe needsof pedestrians. However, makers of PNDs and smart phonesmustovercome challenges before the pedestrian navigation marketcantake off, according to iSuppli Corporation.
Themarketforpedestrian navigation systems is expected to emerge slowlyintheUnited States and Europe until 2011, when theindustry'sgrowthphase is set to begin due to the rise ofLocation-BasedServices(LBSs).
Pedestriannavigation was pioneered in Japan, but thesesolutionsare emergingquickly in the United States and Europe.Numerouscompanies arelaunching products and making alliances tocover thisimportantsegment.
The keyfactorforcompanies participating in this area will be devising waystomakemoney from their service portfolios. Ways ofmonetizingpedestriannavigation services under the LBS portfoliorange frompaidsubscription to ad-based models.
"Pedestriannavigation opens up lots of businessopportunitiesfor contentsuppliers and advertisers utilizinglocationintelligence," saidDanny Kim, portable and LBS analyst atiSuppli."Advertisers cansimply put contextual LBS content on topofpedestrian maps andmake their businesses more accessibletopedestrian navigationusers, more so than car navigation users,whohave limiteddoor-to-door accessibility."
Still,therearemany challenges for pedestrian navigation providers todeployaprofitable suite of services in the mainstreamconsumernavigationmarket.
PedestrianNavigation Outlook
Thesuccessofpedestrian navigation will depend on therolloutofpedestrian-centric content and the integrationwithpedestrianroutes. Furthermore, how to seamlessly andintuitivelyintegratepublic transportation information, branded POIicons, anddetailedlocal search information are challenges not yetfacedbytraditional navigation solutions.
Anotherchallengeisthe level of pedestrian navigation mapping.Pedestriannavigationmapping companies are expanding their mapcoverage intourbanpedestrian levels such as complicated downtownsidewalks,alleys andeven indoor facilities like shopping malls andmovietheaters.
Posted by EMS007
Web: www.wwteq.com
EMS:http://www.wwteq.com/wwteq_Category_2068177_1.html