deCarta and Appello Partner to Provide Navigation for LG Electronics Handsets
Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2009 - deCarta, the leading supplier of software and services for the Location-Based Services (LBS) industry, and Appello, the supplier of Wisepilot, the market leading online navigation and local search service, today announced that they have reached an agreement with LG Electronics, Inc. (LG) to install navigation and local search services on LG feature phones worldwide. This will allow owners of LG phones to have state-of-the-art navigation directly on their GPS-enabled mobile phone.
Under the agreement with LG, deCarta will supply the Appello Wisepilot navigation application built on deCarta's Drill Down Server (DDS), providing LG handset users with an unparalleled navigation experience enriched with best breed lifestyle content tailored for core target groups. Additionally, the application will be integrated with other mobile services such as geotagging and social networking. The users will also benefit from a companion personal web portal allowing further customization.
The services will be initially offered in over 40 countries, where they will be pre-installed on all feature phones giving LG users a free 30-day trial period, followed by the option to continue the service under a daily, 6- or 12-month subscription plan.
Wisepilot is built on deCarta's DDS geospatial platform, the most successful location platform on the market today. DDS allows Wisepilot to easily integrate digital maps and database content drawn from multiple sources for fast, accurate access to the user. DDS provides flexible, patented spatial searching, geocoding and routing for LBS applications.
" Location and navigation are quickly becoming required features on mobile phones,"said J. Kim Fennell, President and CEO of deCarta. "We are excited to be partnering with a company of the stature of LG, whose vision for rolling out navigation will make this valuable service available to many more users worldwide. "
" The Wisepilot solution is unique in its ability to provide excellent navigation as well as localized content for different regions", said DooWhan (Paul) Sang, Vice President of LG Electronics. We feel that this addition will continue to differentiate the LG user experience. "
About deCarta
deCarta is the leading geospatial software platform that has enabled some of the industry's most successful Location-Based Services (LBS) applications such as those deployed by Verizon, Sprint Nextel, AT&T, T-Mobile, Multimap and Hotels.com. The company's technology is ideal for high-volume LBS applications in the mobile, personal navigation, connected navigation, enterprise and Internet markets where scalability, speed and reliability are vital. deCarta's solutions are preferred by application developers and service providers who seek to leverage deCarta's unique core strengths of server-side and wireless LBS expertise, and also want the flexibility to customize map styles and self-brand. Some of deCarta's customers and technology partners include Appello, ATX, AutoTrader.com, Gearworks, Hotels.com, INRIX, Local Matters, loopt, Maps.com, Motorola, Multimap, NAVTEQ, Networks In Motion, Tele Atlas, TeleNav and WHERE. deCarta is privately held and headquartered in San Jose, California with international offices in the UK, Germany and China. www.decarta.com.
About Appello and Wisepilot
Appello is a leading provider of mobile GPS navigation services and offers turn-key solutions to mobile network operators, handset manufacturers and business customers. Appello has developed WISEPILOT® a unique and award-winning navigation platform for mobile devices providing applications to the automotive and telecom industries. Appello's customers include some of Europe's largest mobile network operators, telecom distributors, web portals, directory service providers, handset manufacturers and telecom system integrators. Appello has its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden.
For more information, visit www.appello.se | www.wisepilot.com
About LG Electronics
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people working in 114 operations including 82 subsidiaries around the world. With 2008 global sales of USD 44.7 billion, LG is comprised of five business units - Home Entertainment, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning, Business Solutions and Mobile Communications. LG is the world's leading producer of mobile handsets, flat panel TVs, air conditioners, front-loading washing machines, optical storage products, DVD players and home theater systems. LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company (LG) is a leading global mobile communication and information company. LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world with its cutting-edge technology and innovative handset design capabilities. Increasingly, LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products. LG will continue to take leadership in the mobile communication environment with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit www.lge.com.
All companies and products referenced in this press release are the trademarks of their respective owners. © 2010 deCarta, Inc. All rights reserved.
Amanda Slayton-Joslin
Honcho PR
amanda@honchopr.com
+44 (0)7774 601059
Michele Zipse
Marketing Communications, deCarta
Tel: +1 415 398 0580
email: mzipse@decarta.com
Leif Sundstrom
Vice President and General Sales Director, Appello
+46 706 155 146
leif.sundstrom@appello.com
For press related inquiries about deCarta please email pr@decarta.com.