Navigon

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Navigon GmbH
Type GmbH
Industry ICT / Electronics
Founded 1991
Headquarters Hamburg, Germany
Products GPS navigation software
GPS navigation devices
Employees 400 (April 2008)
Parent Garmin
Website www.navigon.com

Navigon GmbH is a Hamburg, Germany-based manufacturer of GPS devices and GPS navigation software. It was privately owned, until in June 2011, it was announced that Navigon was to be acquired by Garmin and become a subsidiary of the company.[1] With effect from October 31, 2011, Navigon has changed his legal entity from corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) to GmbH.[2]

Navigon's full portfolio includes Navigon branded personal navigation devices as well as OEM software solutions for the navigation, wireless and automotive sectors. Navigon currently has offices in Asia, Europe and North America; and employs more than 400 people.[3]

History

The company was founded 1991. Navigon has introduced several "firsts" to the GPS navigation market. In 2000, Navigon launched the industry's first navigation software for the Pocket PC. With the introduction of Traffic Message Channel-based (TMC) traffic avoidance features in 2002, Navigon became the first to offer such a feature on a consumer GPS product.

In 2005 private equity firm General Atlantic bought a minority interest in the company in order to provide capital for expansion. Peter Scheufen continues to have majority ownership. In 2006 Navigon acquired Navteq's navigation software business. After primarily catering to the European market, in 2004 Navigon directly entered the North American market by forming a subsidiary, Navigon Inc. headquartered in Chicago, IL.[3]

Navigon Europe

Navigon GmbH is the parent company of all Navigon brands. Navigon is one of the largest GPS brands in Europe and is well established. Navigon GmbH sells several models that carry similar model numbers (usually differentiated with the xx10 or xx50 in their number) as those sold in North America. Most of the devices include similar features and functionality as their counter-parts.

Additionally there are several older models which were sold under the Transonic name in Europe which are products of Navigon GmbH. These models have since been discontinued, being replaced by Navigon's current offerings.

Navigon Inc.

The U.S. subsidiary, Navigon Inc., was formed in March 2004 with Edgar Christen as General Manager to adapt and market the Navigon product line in the North American market. Navigon Inc. announced its first OEM agreement in November 2004 with EasyPocketNAV.com, a leading distributor for portable GPS navigation solutions. EasyPocketNAV.com marketed and sold the OnCourse Navigator (TM) software, based on Navigon's technology platform, which turned Microsoft-powered Pocket PCs into an easy-to-use voice guided GPS navigation system.

In May 2006 Navigon appoints Andreas Hecht as Senior Vice President, General Manager, of the Americas and in May 2007 as President, General Manager. He replaced Edgar Christen as General Manager. Hecht was responsible for Navigon's operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America. An authority in the navigation sector, Hecht is a 10-year veteran of Navteq, creators of the world's most widely used digital maps, where he served in senior executive roles in technology and business development in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

Navigon Inc. launched three models in the North American market in July 2007. The initial launch included the 2100 (2120 in Canada), 5100 and 7100 models. These models introduced several new features to the North American consumer GPS market including:

  • Reality View - A feature which displays computer generated static images of complex Interstate Highway interchanges.
  • Lifetime Traffic - Traffic Message Channel service similar to offerings from other companies, but for a one-time fee (or included with some higher end models).
  • Zagat Survey Ratings & Reviews

In April 2008 Navigon Inc. expanded their line-up with the 2100 Max (2120 Max in Canada) model. This model is functionally similar to the original 2100 but includes a larger, 4.3" LCD screen and adds the company's Direct Help functionality.

On October 13, 2008 Navigon announced that Michael Roach, former director of U.S. sales for LG Electronics, would become president of Navigon's North American operations.[4] In his role as president for the Americas, Roach will lead all marketing and sales functions for the Americas. He will report directly to Egon Minar, chief sales officer at NAVIGON AG (Germany). Roach replaces Andreas Hecht.

On May 4, 2009 Navigon announced that they will cease North American sales. According to CEO Egon Minar: "Due to the difficult economic environment and the aggressive pricing we have decided to withdraw from the PND business in North America for the time being. We are however not closing down our Chicago office which will continue to serve our automotive and mobile phone businesses in North America."[5] Since this announcement the Chicago office has, in fact, been closed.

As of August 2009, the only consumer products Navigon offers in North America are the iPhone application, Android Apps, Windows Phone 7 apps, and visits from North American IP addresses to the www.navigon.com or www.navigonusa.com sites are redirected to a site devoted to the mobile apps, with no mention of former Navigon consumer products, even those that were brand new on the market less than a year before. Despite discontinuing North American sales Navigon products are still supported, albeit only by e-mail with European support representatives. Those individuals who owned Navigon's map update service prior to its discontinuation are still receiving map updates for their devices as of December 2009.

Discontinued North American Products

  • Navigon 2000S
  • Navigon 2090S (RadioShack Exclusive)
  • Navigon 2200T
  • Navigon 2100 Max
  • Navigon 5100 Max
  • Navigon 7200T
  • Navigon 8100T

Current North American Products

  • Navigon iPhone app
  • Navigon MobileNavigator for the Android platform
  • Navigon USA, Navigon Europe, and traffic4all apps for the Windows Phone platform

Maps

The maps used by Navigon are provided by Navteq. Map errors are handled by the Navteq Map Reporter.[6] Errors can be reported using Navigon's report map errors page[7] and also using the Navteq Map Reporter.[8]

In June 2011 Navigon introduced a point of interest package derived from the crowdsourced OpenStreetMap project.[9]

Navigon Traffic Live

Navigon’s iPhone Application, MobileNavigator is all set to receive the Live Traffic feature that is capable of warning users of the upcoming traffic congestion and dynamically routing the user around it.[10]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Navigon.

References

  1. ↑ "Garmin® Ltd. Announces Signing of Agreement To Acquire Navigon® AG". Navigon. 14 June 11. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 
  2. ↑ "About Navigon". Navigon. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "History of Navigon". Navigon. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 
  4. ↑ [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=49585577&privcapId=24844140&previousCapId=12531935&previousTitle=NAVIGON,%20Inc. "Executive Profile: Michael Roach"]. Bloomberg. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 
  5. ↑ Darren Murph (May 4, 2009). "Navigon withdraws from GPS business in North America". Engadget. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 
  6. ↑ "About Navteq Map Reporter". Navteq. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
  7. ↑ "Report map errors". Navigon. Retrieved 2010-10-10. 
  8. ↑ "Navteq Map Reporter". Navteq. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
  9. ↑ "New POI packages from NAVIGON: site-specific information in 44 countries". Navigon AG. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  10. ↑ Dong Ngo (September 16, 2009). "Navigon GPS iPhone app to get live traffic". CNET. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 

External links

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