MapMyIndia Launches Personal Navigation Device
CE Infosystems, which runs the portal MapmyIndia.com, has gone down the devices path with the launch of MapMyIndia Navigator, a GPS based Personal Navigation Device (PND). The device provides turn-by-turn navigation with voice instructions. As per the release, the MapMyIndia Navigator provides street coverage of 18 major Indian cities, landmarks within 150 cities and directions for 55,000 towns and villages connected by highways. For the hardware, they’ve got the Delphi Nav 200 and AMAX 06GP5A, priced at priced at Rs. 21,000 in Delhi, and Rs. 22,000 in other states, which is rather expensive. Interestingly, CE Infosystems is targeting recurring revenues by providing map updates twice a year, which users can purchase. PTI adds that MapMyIndia plans to launch new maps for mobile phones and Internet this month.
MapMyIndia already provides maps for the BlackBerry 8830. Readers should remember that mobile handsets like Nokia’s (NYSE: NOK) N95 and E90, as well as BlackBerry 8800 and 8820 are GPS enabled. CE Infosystems is funded by Nexus India Capital, KPCB and Sherpalo Ventures.
Funny that they choose to go Device way . Nokia has just bought NavTeq and they have openly declared their intention of becoming a service company . why would i pay 22K + Subscription Fee + Connectivity Cost . to get maps of Only India . When i can get a high end Nokia device for same price and use NavTeq as service for worldwide .
some interesting experiment are going on in home turf
RouteGuru is very innovative and practically Zero Cost for End user .
Bangalore based Interchain solution's GPS Watch seems like a better choice for navigation and web based monitoring .
some fleet management and Car rental companies might find some value in such device but for an average end user like me I fail to see any value as of now . i hope they have some aces up their sleeve.
Hi Nikhil Pahwa ji,
I'm TSUKASAKI Yoshinao from Japan, Zero-Sum, LTD.
As you know, you can see GPS maps on your mobile phone in Japan.
If some japanese companies who have the system that make your mobile phone have the GPS maps want to deliver their system to India market, which carrier will be interested?
Do you have any idea?
See you again.
Oh, Airtel has have it on BlackBerry 8800 as your article, Fri 13 Jul 2007…
Dear Nikhil,
Thanks for writing about the MapmyIndia Navigator, and Prashant thanks for your feedback as well.
I wanted to address some inaccuracies in Prashant's comments:
1) The cost for MapmyIndia Navigator is one time only, which is Rs 21,000 inside Delhi and Rs 22,000 outside Delhi (for shipping and taxation).
There is NO other usage fee, for connectivity, or subscription.
With the product, detailed and comprehensive maps for all of India come pre-loaded with the portable GPS navigation device, and additionally you get the accessories such as windshield and car mounts, as well as car and wall chargers.
2) Regarding Nokia: You can use the phones for navigation in parts of the world where Navteq has detailed maps, but not for India, because Navteq has not released detailed maps for India. So yes, people will buy Nokia phones because they are great phones and entertainment devices, but people will not buy Nokia phones in India for navigation.
Warm Regards,
Rohan