M-NAV 750 Navman's new In-Vehicle Mobile Messaging and Vehicle Tracking Device

Navman launched the first commercial-grade GPS/dispatch/messaging device for in-vehicle use, the M-NAV 750, an upgrade to the company's first generation of mobile messaging, navigation and vehicle tracking device the M-NAV 650.

Some of the new features include:

• 4.3" anti-glare touch screen engineered to withstand heavy use, eliminating replacement during the contract period. The touch screen is significantly built for more touches than consumer GPS devices used by other fleet management vendors.
• Routing based on truck attributes such as length and weight, helping to prevent fines for non-compliance with road regulations.
• Driver ID functionality enabling automated reporting of drivers' hours as well as analysis of speed, mileage and other attributes by driver.
• A five-year warranty - five times longer than consumer navigation systems adapted for fleet use - enabled by Navman-controlled manufacturing.
• A unique smart cradle that eliminates ports, wires and points of failure, instead allowing drivers to simply drop the M-Nav 750 into the cradle to connect.

The M-NAV 750 offers full connectivity with other components of the Navman platform, including the Online AVL2 real time vehicle tracking software and Navman's real time GPS locator QUBE.

For full details visit M-NAV 750 Mobile Messaging and Vehicle Tracking Device.

Reduce CO2 Emissions from your Company Vans with Navigation Systems

Vehicle tracking systems and GPS navigation devices can generate many benefits for business owners; increasing productivity and decreasing in fuel costs, but up until now not much attention has been paid to reducing CO2 emissions in a companies vehicle fleet.

A study conducted by NuStats, a social science research firm revealed that drivers who make use of a navigation devices could reduce their CO2 emissions by nearly 1 metric ton per year.

Drivers from two metropolitan areas of Germany, Dusseldorf and Munich were monitored; these drivers were divided in three groups:

Group 1: Drivers without navigation system
Group 2: Drivers with navigation system
Group 3: Drivers with a navigation system that included traffic information

The study revealed that drivers from group 2 and 3 drove shorter distances, spent less time driving and reported an increase of 12% in fuel efficiency, measured by litres of fuel consumed per 100km, fuel consumption among these drivers improved from 34 MPG (7.2 l/100km) to 38.7 MPG (8.3 l/100km)

The 12% increase in fuel efficiency found in the study would represent a nearly 1 metric ton reduction in CO2 emissions per driver, or 25g/km which represents a 24% decrease over the CO2 that the average non gps navigation user emits per year.

Its also worth noting that if all the drivers in Germany achieved these savings, over 1 million fewer tyres would be needed in Germany alone – which has its own benefit in costs and co2 reduction.

Vehicle tracking specialist Navman Wireless is calling on the government to protect businesses against unscrupulous telematics operators

At a time of severe economic instability, which threatens to put thousands of UK companies out of business, Navman Wireless has called for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to establish a TrustMark initiative for the vehicle tracking industry.

“Vehicle tracking technology can save companies thousands of pounds a year, boosting fleet efficiency and productivity, but businesses need help identifying reputable providers,” says Tony Neill, Executive Vice President, Navman Wireless.

“The BERR’s TrustMark scheme has helped empower businesses and consumers to raise standards in the building sector. The vehicle tracking industry, which has attracted unscrupulous businesses looking to make quick, easy money at the expense of unsuspecting and badly advised customers, could benefit in a similar way.

“The advanced technological nature of the telematics industry would necessitate a different scheme structure and require a unique set of government endorsed standards.”

Approved scheme operators would have to meet specific criteria ranging from hardware quality and server hosting standards to adequate IT support.

“Vehicle tracking from a reputable provider offers companies operating fleets one of the most logical solutions to cutting costs,” adds Tony.

“But until such time as a scheme guaranteeing standards is introduced, the critical message for businesses is for them to do their homework before investing large sums of money. Failure to do so could lead to grave financial consequences.”

Enhanced Vehicle Tracking Features for Navman Wireless OnlineAVL2

Navman Wireless has announced that their vehicle tracking system will be expanding the usage of Microsoft Virtual Earth in the OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking software.

Navman Wireless' CEO, Mr. TJ Chung said:

"Microsoft Virtual Earth is strategically aligned with the needs of enterprise users, which is why we not only adopted Virtual Earth as our primary mapping and location information platform, but also are aggressively promoting it to our customers,"

And added:

"Microsoft Virtual Earth adds enhanced mapping and navigation capabilities to OnlineAVL2, including the ability to display satellite imagery and the latest street-level information, establish specific landmarks and customer destinations, optimize driving directions and much more. This relationship allows Navman Wireless OnlineAVL2 platform to take advantage of the enormous resources Microsoft is dedicating to the Virtual Earth mapping platform."

With Microsoft Virtual Earth, Navman Wireless vehicle tracking customers have an enhanced experience, with numerous mapping features to track their vehicles including bird's eye view, 3D images, point-by-point directions, multiple mapping and a number of other features.

Adding these features to Navman Wireless OnlineAVL2, frequent map updates and user customisability makes the OnlineAVL2 one of the most advanced fleet tracking applications available on the market nowadays.

For a full insight about Navman Wireless Vehicle Tracking Products visit http://www.vehicle-tracking-solutions.co.uk/products.asp and to learn more about Microsoft Mapping Technology visit http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth.

Navman Wireless users are spread out through all three major continents and this partnership makes Navman the largest Microsoft Virtual Earth partner in the vehicle tracking industry reaching over 100,000 units.

Petrochemical Company using Navman's Qube Vehicle Telematics

A couple of months ago as we mentioned back in October Navman Wireless became the first vehicle tracking company in the UK to meet health and safety requirements for vehicles transporting hazardous materials and operating in potentially explosive atmospheres with the brand new Qube vehicle tracking Unit.

This safety accreditation has led Western Fuel, a petrochemical company based in Somerset, to introduce vehicle tracking and telematics to its fleet.

To meet the fundamental legal requirements relating to the welfare of workers in explosive conditions, the vehicle tracking equipment need to be in accordance with the health and safety requirements for the Category 3G of the ATEX directive, which the Qube unit did.

Navman Wireless Executive Vice President Mr Tony, Neil said:

"We are delighted to agree a deal with Western Fuel. Ensuring our equipment is suitable for every kind of fleet is imperative to our continued development."

The deal includes the installation of MDT-860 terminals, these terminals allow two-way messaging between drivers and office and the use of Navman Wireless ConEx technology, which enables the monitoring of active fuel pumps.

Western Fuel's Director Mr Craig Lamont, said:

"We chose Navman Wireless because it was the only telematics company whose technology has been certified as suitable for the petrochemical industry,"

and added:

"Navman Wireless has done everything it said it would and the equipment."

New Spirit GPS Interface to be Presented at CES 2009

CES started today in Las Vegas and Mio (Navman's parent company) will be launching a new Spirit interface. The new OS comes with touch screen features that allow drag and drop elements on display, as well as, view geotagged photos and 3D representations landmarks and complex junctions.

The Spirit interface is available here in Europe under the Navman label, now Mio is planning on debuting the OS in some new North American models.

The Spirit interface also features 4.3'' colour display, mp3 playback and voiced street names for your comfort.

Despite Crisis Navman Continues to Prosper

Despite the economic crisis, Navman have reported expressive growth in numbers of employees and most importantly in turnover.

Navman Wireless is the UK's leading manufacturer of vehicle tracking systems, messaging and navigation equipment (GPS). Since the beginning of 2007 Navman has seen an impressive 35 per cent growth in employee numbers with a further 10 per cent increase expected by the end of 2008.

This remarkable increase in staff members unfortunately doesn't reflect the reality of what is going on in the UK, where unemployment numbers have reached the 1,79 million mark, the largest since 1991, and is expected to reach the 2 million mark by Christmas.

Such growth can be related to an increasing number of decision makers becoming more aware of the advantages of vehicle tracking systems and fleet management software. Navman Executive Vice President, Mr Tony Neil, said:

"These figures reflect an appreciation among UK fleet operators, that vehicle tracking offers businesses a real competitive advantage by helping them reduce costs and boost productivity,"

And added:

"They also underline Navman Wireless' strength in adapting and responding successfully in an increasingly uncertain financial climate."

Another factor that has contributed to Navman's growth was the reconstruction of three departments; financial, business development and sales.

Today Navman Wireless UK employs 31 people and will be hiring another 7 members of staff before the end of the year. Navman hasn't revealed any numbers, but is also known that their network of UK dealers has grown considerably over the past 12 months.

Navman has been established in the UK since April 2001, the company was the first to use the power of the internet to offer a fixed price GPRS vehicle tracking system and was the first to combine vehicle tracking technology with satellite navigation in one package.

Around the World Navman Wireless operates in 10 countries providing its services to more than 7,500 customers.

Navman S100 Handheld GPS

Navman have launched a touch screen Satnav device to appeal to both Sunday drivers and to those who do a lot of miles. It's a slim device with styling reminiscent of Apple products. Its touch screen interface, called Glide Touch, is as subtle and responsive as the iPhone's slick system. The S-Series S100 sets a new benchmark in GPS navigation. It's amazingly slim at just 13.5mm, yet packed with useful features such as Navman's brand new ClearView maps displayed on the super-flat widescreen.

• 4.3" Super-flat widescreen
• Ultra-slim, lightweight design (13.5mm)
• Pioneering 'Spirit' software with Glide Touch
• Infobel Local Search vis NavDesk™ desktop
• NavPix photo navigation
• Pedestrian mode
• Enhanced NavDesk desktop
• 3D Junction Views with real signpost data
• 3D landmarks
• Economical routing
• MP3 player
• Pre-loaded safety camera data (free trial*)
• Text to Speech (spoken next turn road names)
• GPS fix 5 times faster with SiRFInstantFixII™
• Latest map data for Great Britain and Ireland

London Congestion Zone charges reduced with vehicle tracking

Navman has launched new software to help transport companies escape hefty charges in London's Low Emission Zone.

Nearly all lorries weighing more than 3.5 tons, buses and coaches above five tons, minibuses containing eight seats or more and vans exceeding 1.205 tons entering most of Greater London must now pay £200 a day - rising to £1,000 for late payment - following a change in legislation in July 2008.

However, Navman Wireless, the UK's largest manufacturer of vehicle tracking equipment, has launched a new 'zone report' tool, which can monitor vehicles entering the LEZ, in addition to the congestion zone, to ensure firms are not unnecessarily penalised.

Tony Neill, Executive Vice President of Navman Wireless, said:

The LEZ has had a dramatic impact on virtually all transport firms using Greater London. With this new software, drivers and fleet operators can keep a close eye on LEZ expenses and ensure costs are kept to a minimum.

The technology, which is free as part of Navman Wireless's existing OnLineAVL2 system, provides comprehensive information on driver behaviour including real-time updates on location, speed and time spent inside the LEZ.

Navman Qube certified for use in 'potentially explosive atmospheres' and in vehicles transporting hazardous materials

Navman Wireless's vehicle tracking device, the Qube, has been declared suitable for installation in vehicles transporting hazardous materials or operating in "potentially explosive atmospheres" - a UK first for the telematics industry. Navman Wireless's vehicle tracking device, the Qube, has been declared suitable for installation in vehicles transporting hazardous materials or operating in 'potentially explosive atmospheres' a UK first for the telematics industry.

The Qube meets the Essential Health and Safety Requirements for Category 3G of the ATEX directive, the fundamental legal requirement relating to the safety, health and welfare of workers in areas where explosive atmospheres may occur.