Candid conversations about using GPS and wireless technology for work and fun.
Archive for October, 2008
Ask HP Anything: HP Answers Your Questions
Oct 31st
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Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
Last Friday, we introduced our new "Ask HP Anything" column which gives our readers a chance to ask our CEO any question they might have.
Apparently, we are communicating things so well that only a few of you have questions…but if I’m wrong (what?!) and you are still interested in asking, just post a comment or question here or send me an email at marybethl (at) telenav.com. We’ll run this post each Friday with HP’s answers.
Thanks!
Here are HP’s answers to last week’s questions:
Q: (from Offbeatmammal) as far as I can work out the TeleNav service relies on downloading maps over the air, so can be pretty slow to update/refresh …. are there any plans to off-load any of the functionality to the device (for instance cache maps relevant to the planned route / current location etc) to cater for slow connection speeds or areas with no coverage?
HP: Offbeatmammal – thanks for the feedback. We are always looking at ways to improve the overall experience. This may include caching to the device as you suggested. We’ll keep you posted via this blog as we enhance the technology. At the same time, many new mobile phones are running on higher speed networks so this should help increase download speeds (e.g. 3G) if you are using one of these phones.
Q: (also from Offbeatmammal) just wondering if you have any plans for an in-dash unit with a bigger screen? Say based on Windows Embedded and including In Car Entertainment as well as the navigation capabilities?
HP: I wish I could provide specifics on some of the exciting things we’re working on right now but, unfortunately, I have to wait until they’re officially announced. In can tell you, though, that we are always exploring different opportunities for how to improve and expand our service so that we provide the best experience for our customers. To that point, we love to get feedback from our customers on what they want to see. Are you interested in an in-dash unit with a bigger screen? What else would you like us to consider for research and development? Your thoughts are always appreciated.
Q: (from George Zhao) HP, currently, how does the china cell phone users use telenav navigation services? If they do not like monthly subscription, can they choose to be charged by usage like the way people uses their phone card in China? Thanks.
HP: Hi George – TeleNav GPS Navigator is available in China through the wireless carrier China Mobile and customers pay through a monthly subscription. For the TeleNav branded product called TianTianXing, you can buy using a prepaid card for a limited period of time. By the way, just as a side note, China Mobile just announced at the end of Sept. that they currently have more than 436 million wireless subscribers! I believe they are the largest wireless carrier in the world.
Painting it Pink
Oct 31st
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Author – Daisy Luu – Technical Writer
On Saturday, Oct. 25, TeleNav joined over 25,000 participants in the Bay Area Making Strides walk, hosted by the American Cancer Society. Previously only held in San Francisco, 2008 is the first year Making Strides was also held in San Jose. The five km. (3.1 mile) walk looped around the Guadalupe River Park trail. What a great time to use TeleNav GPS Navigator’s pedestrian mode!
Participants "painted the town pink," wearing the color as a symbol of Breast Cancer awareness. Volunteers stationed along the trail waved cheery pink pom-poms to cheer on walkers. The amount of energy and enthusiasm hung palpable in the air, and during the short 3-mile walk, TeleNav’ers caught up with each other outside the office and met each others’ friends and families.
TeleNav raised $1,540 for the Making Strides event! Visit this site for more information on how you can help.
Cloaked in Mystery – The Story Behind a Local Haunted House
Oct 31st
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Author – Daisy Luu – Technical Writer
She lived with dozens of servants around the clock, and still, she was alone. In 1884, a wealthy widow named Sarah Winchester began commissioning for a mansion to be built – an endeavor that went on for 38 years. The mansion ended up with about 160 rooms, utlilized some surprisingly modern technology (plus a strange mix of architecture), and cost $5.5 million.
William Wirt Winchester, Sarah’s husband, was the heir to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, the artillery weapon dubbed “the gun that won the west.” Because it was responsible for taking so many lives, a curse followed the Winchester family. Sarah’s only daughter died as an infant, and fifteen years later, tuberculosis claied her husband’s life. Obsessed that the vengeful spirits would target her next, Sarah began a mission to build her house, believing she would remain safe as long as construction continued.
That’s what the legends say, anyway. Winchester Mystery House is rooted in oddities. Sarah employed up to 25 carpenters at once and added strange elements such as upside-down banister poles, that led to nowhere, skylights built into floors, and repetitive motifs such as the number 13 and spider-web designs.
Winchester Mystery House has drawn millions of visitors since it was made a public attraction in the 1930′s. As you gear up for some good spooks this Halloween, here is a fun website you can visit to find haunted houses around your area.
Be sure to use TeleNav to get there!
TeleNav Helps The Cable … er Satellite … Guy
Oct 31st
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Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
(courtesy: www.movieposter.com)
Wouldn’t it be nice if your cable guy was actually on time or provided you with an exact service time rather than a 4-8 hour window?
TeleNav is helping to make this happen. Satellites Unlimited, the 3rd largest DISH Network provider, is using TeleNav Track on 240 AT&T phones.
All of those service techs use TeleNav Track for GPS navigation and the company estimates each service rep is able to save 30-60 min out of their day because of it. This results in more efficient customer care.
It also means that Satellites Unlimited has been able to save money on gas because drivers can be more efficiently routed to customers. If you’re a business owner, you can immediately see the benefit in optimized routing.
Satellites Unlimited hopes to expand its use of TeleNav Track to the rest of its 240 employees within in the next year or two.
TeleNav Tops New ABI Research Off-Board Handset-based Navigation Software Vendor Matrix Ranking
Oct 30th
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Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
We found out some exciting news today. ABI Research ranked TeleNav at the top of the research firm’s Off-Board Handset-based Navigation Software (i.e. cell phone navigation) Vendor Matrix.
The vendor matrix is a tool that ABI developed to help provide a better understanding of how companies are positioned in a specific market. Companies are assessed based on innovation and implementation.
Dominique Bonte, ABI’s research director said that TeleNav has the edge due to "the launch of speech technology, a large number of agreements with carriers across all regions, and a successful combination of a branded and white label strategy."
If you’re interested in getting more information on this study, please visit the ABI Research site.
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