SOURCE: TeleNav, Inc.

November 10, 2008 00:00 ET

TeleNav Introduces Its First Two-Way, Internet-Connected GPS Personal Navigation Device

TeleNav Shotgun™ Uses Wireless Network to Provide a New Navigation Solution for Business Travelers

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - November 10, 2008) - TeleNav, Inc., the first company to launch a cell phone GPS navigation service in the U.S., today unveiled TeleNav Shotgun, TeleNav's first two-way, Internet-connected GPS personal navigation device (PND). Available for purchase immediately, TeleNav Shotgun leverages the wireless network to provide real-time, connected features for business travelers including traffic alerts, Internet content (maps and business listings) and updated gas prices.

According to JD Powers' 2008 PND Usage and Satisfaction Study, real-time information continues to be the most desirable feature among PND owners, including real-time traffic capability, current weather/forecast and up-to-date market information, such as average gas prices(1).

"Connected navigation means your device won't have a limited shelf life," said HP Jin, president, CEO and co-founder of TeleNav. "Using a PND without a connection is like using a laptop without an Internet connection. It limits you to information that resides on the device. Business travelers need to stay connected in order to stay productive and up-to-date."

Through TeleNav Connected Service(SM), TeleNav Shotgun monitors traffic conditions along drivers' routes and proactively searches for congestion or incidents. Customers will be alerted to traffic delays, both audibly and on-screen, and can choose an alternative route to their location with one touch. Users can also access specific incident information and determine the traffic speed / flow of major highways along their route. TeleNav Shotgun even displays an updated estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on traffic, speeds and distance.

TeleNav Connected Service also keeps content (maps and local search data) up-to-date so users do not have to separately download new information. TeleNav Shotgun comes with 11 million points of interest (POIs), one of the largest databases of business listings available on a PND. Categories are easy to search and include a variety of locations, including restaurants, hotels, airports, Wi-Fi hot spots and regular gas price updates. A customer can also type in the name of a specific business. Business listings include phone numbers so users can save money on 411 charges if they need to call ahead.

Users can also preplan trips, save addresses and manage accounts online at www.telenav.com. Customers can save locations in their 'My Favorites' folder, which will be automatically downloaded on their device next time they turn it on. Additionally, the new My TeleNav Internet browser plug-in for Internet Explorer®, Firefox® and Google® toolbars provides users an easy way to send addresses to their TeleNav Shotgun from any Web page. Users can simply highlight an address and click the TeleNav button on their toolbar. The address will be automatically added to My TeleNav for later use on their Shotgun device. Online access means that administrative assistants can help preplan business trips as well.

TeleNav Shotgun is a good choice for both new customers as well as those already using TeleNav GPS Navigator™ on their mobile phone. According to recent research from industry analyst firm Berg Insight, PNDs and cell phone GPS solutions will co-exist in the market as demand will continue for both(2).

David Chamberlain, principal wireless analyst with In-Stat, agrees.

"We have found, through several recent consumer surveys, that mobile handset navigation and PNDs may actually be complementary rather than competing," stated Chamberlain. "More than 30 percent of consumers that we surveyed last year said they would consider buying both."

"We're leveraging our experience and success with connected cell phone GPS navigation to provide the best in connected PNDs," continued TeleNav's Jin. "Now we offer our customers both options. The wireless connectivity of TeleNav Shotgun means they get the same features and convenience that they're familiar with in TeleNav GPS Navigator, with the added value of a larger screen."

With the TeleNav Connected Service, TeleNav Shotgun users can take advantage of upgrades without having to purchase a new device(3). Updates will be delivered via the wireless network, so users don't have to deal with the hassle of connecting cables and downloading software on a PC.

Some feature updates that are under development include(4):

--  Restaurant Reviews - Quickly identify the top places to go and read
    what others say.
--  Address Sharing - Share addresses or your location to meet up with
    friends more efficiently.
--  Weather - Get up-to-date, detailed weather information.
--  Commute Alerts - Get emailed alerts about traffic conditions on your
    daily commute.
    

Availability

TeleNav Shotgun is available immediately for $299 and includes three months of free TeleNav Connected Service.

TeleNav Connected Service includes real-time traffic alerts, Internet search with over 11 million business listings, updated maps, online preplanning, and access to selected new features when they are available.

Options for service plans include:

--  2 Year Plan: $239 (equivalent to $9.96 per month)
--  1 Year Plan: $129 (equivalent to $10.75 per month)
--  Month to Month: $11.99 per month
    

Device owners not wishing to subscribe to TeleNav Connected Service following the three-month free period included with their purchase will be able to use the TeleNav Shotgun for GPS-enabled turn-by-turn navigation but will not have access to connected features such as real-time traffic and online preplanning.

TeleNav Shotgun Highlights

Hardware Highlights:

--  Slim and portable at 4.9L x 3.1W x 0.75H inches
--  High-quality 4.3 inch TFT LCD touch screen
--  Car and home charger
--  Mounting arm and cradle
    

Software Highlights:

--  Onscreen and voice guidance with spoken street names
--  Full-color 3D moving maps
--  Over 11 million POIs
--  Preloaded with maps of U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico(5)
    

TeleNav Connected Service Highlights:

--  Real-time traffic updates and intelligent rerouting
--  Internet-connected Search
--  Online preplanning: send addresses from the Web to your device
--  Access latest releases of maps and POIs
--  Access to selected new features when available
    

To find out more information or to purchase TeleNav Shotgun, visit www.telenav.com/shotgun or call TeleNav at 1 88 TeleNav 8 (1.888.353.6288).

Editor's note: TeleNav Shotgun images, b-roll and a fact sheet are available for download at: http://www.telenav.com/about/pr-shotgun/.

About TeleNav, Inc.

TeleNav, Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, was the first to launch a cell phone GPS system in the United States. Deployed by 15 carriers in 21 countries, TeleNav is a global leader in wireless location-based services (LBS). Currently, the company's solutions are available in four continents, including North and South America, Asia and Europe.

TeleNav's solutions include GPS navigation, Mobile Resource Management (MRM), asset GPS tracking (AVL), social networking and local search. The company's flagship product, TeleNav GPS Navigator™, is comparable to in-car systems found in luxury vehicles, offering a superior experience with functionality, such as automatically-updated maps and business locations, full color 3D moving maps, traffic alerts and one-click rerouting, location-sharing, business reviews, speech recognition, Wi-Fi hotspot finder, lowest-price fuel finder and more. TeleNav's enterprise application, TeleNav Track, incorporates GPS-enabled tracking, time sheets, wireless forms and navigation. TeleNav Track is a widely adopted service with over 9,000 customer organizations using it today.

TeleNav products are available on more than 450 wireless devices and run on all major mobile platforms currently available. TeleNav's partners include Sprint Nextel, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Alltel, Boost Mobile, Qwest, SouthernLINC Wireless, Rogers, Bell Mobility, T-Mobile UK, T-Mobile Austria, China Mobile, Vivo Brazil, Telcel, NII Holdings, Research In Motion (RIM), Motorola, Samsung, Sanyo, LG, Palm, HTC, Hewlett Packard, Nokia, Tele Atlas, deCarta, INRIX, Qualcomm and SiRF Technology Holdings.

For more information on TeleNav, please visit www.telenav.com.

Copyright 2008 TeleNav, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

"TeleNav," "TeleNav Shotgun," "TeleNav GPS Navigator," the TeleNav logo, and "telenav.com" are registered and unregistered trademarks and/or service marks of TeleNav, Inc. Unless otherwise noted, all other trademarks, service marks, and logos used in this press release are the trademarks, service marks or logos of their respective owners.

(1) JD Power and Associates 2008 Portable Navigation Device Usage and Satisfaction Study(SM), Oct. 2008.

(2) Mobile Navigation Services, Berg Insight, October 2008.

(3) New features may be packaged and sold differently and may require additional fees. Details will be available when the new features are released.

(4) While the listed future feature updates are part of TeleNav’s current development roadmap, the ultimate delivery times and feature sets are subject to change.

(5) TeleNav Connected Service is only available while traveling in the U.S.