ComRoad und FORD beteiligen sich an US-Telematik Software Provider - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[pedro_III]

ComROAD AG beteiligt sich an TELCONTAR<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
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Unterschleißheim, 12. Dezember 2000 – Die ComROAD AG, fuehrender Anbieter von Telematik-Netzwerken, beteiligt sich im Rahmen einer
Finanzierungsrunde an dem Telematik Software-Provider TELCONTAR, Inc., San Jose, Kalifornien. Die TELCONTAR
Karten/Content-Management-Software wird zur Zeit in das Global Transport Telematic System (GTTS) von ComROAD integriert. Zeitgleich mit
ComROAD hat sich die Ford Motor Company an TELCONTAR beteiligt, da der Automobilhersteller im Rahmen seiner zukünftigen
Telematik-Aktivitäten auf die TELCONTAR-Technologie setzt.

Die Beteiligung an TELCONTAR stärkt die Position von ComROAD im US-Markt. Zur Erschliessung des Consumer Marktes plant ComROAD zusammen mit ihrem
US-amerikanischen GTTS-Partner COMWORXX, Inc., die Markteinführung neuartiger Telematik-Dienste anlässlich der in Las Vegas stattfindenden Consumer
Electronic Show im Januar 2001.
Die Integration der TELCONTAR Technologie in das ComROAD Global-Transport Telematic-System (GTTS) ermoeglicht den bereits vorhandenen 31
GTTS-Partnern - bis 2003 soll deren Anzahl auf 100 steigen – Internet-Content mit
Standorten und Navigationsdiensten zu verbinden (dynamic location dependent Content)
Aufgrund der Leistungsfaehigkeit und der Marktdurchdringung entwickeln sich die ComROAD Kerntechnologien GTTS (Global Transport Telematic System) und
OMTP (Open Modular Telematic Platform) zunehmend zu Standardplattformen für den weltweiten Telematik-Markt.

[any_comment]

quelle :?

[jaccomoI]

Hallo PedroIII,

wo holst Du Dir Deine ad-hocs her?

Danke,

Jaccomoi

[straßenköter]

gibt es bei vwd zu lesen.

[ethues]

Nun noch FORD Europa bitte Bodo Schnabel.

[toska]

Bodo Schnabel war gestern bei N24 zu Gast.
Hat das jemand gesehen und kann hier drueber
berichten?

Gruss
Toska

[Neemann]

Ford!!!

[ethues]

Houston, we have lift off !
Thanks to FORD
Dies ist ganz gutte NEWS.
Vorher hatte mann noch gespekuliert das FORD in ON*STAR von General Motors hineinsteigen sollte.
Mit diesem anfang hat FORD US deutlich eimen andere Weg eingeschlagen. Toll !!!
Comroad nach 100 Euro

[Gostbuster]

Sagt mal eine ad-hoc soll doch aufklären und informieren oder wie seh ich das?
Bei der heutigen ad-hoc stellen sich jetzt mehr Fragen als vorher.
Wieviel Prozent hat ComRoad übernommen? Wie groß ist der Umsatz und das EBIT der Firma? Erhofft sich ComRoad durch den zeitgleichen Einstieg von Ford eine stärkere Marktposotion der GTTS Technologie? Fragen über Fragen!!!

[Gostbuster]

Telcontar`s open map management software
provides access to comprehensive worldwide
map coverage and enables companies to
deliver the ultimate navigational solutions
to consumers and businesses today.

When integrated with a variety of dashboard and handheld devices, Telcontar`s solutions are ideal for the most advanced automotive, personal, vehicle tracking, and security navigational applications.

Telcontar is a software and application service provider that enables and delivers maps, location data, real-time information and e-commerce services to users of embedded, wireless, and Internet-enabled clients.


Marketplace

"Telcontar’s Rich Map Engine allowed us to significantly reduce the cost and increase the reliability of our PNA by reducing the data storage requirements of the map database. As an added bonus, we were able to speed up the calculation of routes, making the PNA even more acceptable to the consumer." Mike Higgins
Director of Marketing
Datus, Inc.

The advent of handheld computing, the Internet and massive map and yellow/white pages CD-ROM databases have changed immeasurably the way the average driver performs his or her daily behind-the-wheel tasks. Once, busy parents, delivery drivers, and business travelers had to juggle local maps, road atlases and sometimes-legible handwritten directions while trying to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Now, rental cars are equipped with dashboard computers that plot the business person’s way from the airport to her first client meeting, UPS and FedEx drivers have laptop systems with global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation software to show them where each delivery should be made, and parents trying to manage directions to the PTA meeting, off-site client meetings and carpool trips can download directions into their personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Soon, those seemingly constant rush-hour radio traffic reports will be of practical use to the drivers. Instead of merely being told by the radio announcer that there’s a pileup on 101 northbound, the driver’s dashboard, or handheld navigational computer, will be able to offer alternate routes, average travel times and verbal directions, getting the user quite literally out of a jam. Emergency personnel can quickly locate and assist drivers and their passengers if a security/Emergency 911-equipped car is stranded or in an accident, ending problems with 911 location traces on cellular phone emergency calls. Home security applications can ensure the subscriber’s safety by linking an intruder alarm to a dynamic map with route finding capabilities, allowing the security company to quickly and easily dispatch assistance to the scene. And, there will be no more waiting as the pizza delivery person circles your neighborhood in search of your street, with new GPS and detailed map database-enabled delivery trucks.

Nearly every auto maker and road atlas maker is entering the navigation/information services and computing market, with installed units expected to grow from 1.2 million vehicle navigation units in 1996 to 13 million units in 2003. The personal navigation market is growing rapidly as well, with 463,000 units shipped in 1996, and 41 million units expected to ship in 2003. The combined market size is estimated to reach $5.5 billion in the year 2000.¹ With all of these map/navigation software packages, multitudes of in-car and handheld devices and disparate operating platforms, both hardware and software developers need a solution to manage geo-spatial information and deliver their products to a broad international market of consumers quickly and efficiently. Enter Telcontar.

¹ All market numbers attributed to Dataquest.



Company background

"Microsoft is pleased that Telcontar has joined the Auto PC partner program and plans to make their innovative Rich Map Format and associated spatial content management software available on the Auto PC platform. We also applaud their significant role in establishing industry standards for access to in-car navigation data and services which will greatly benefit manufacturers and consumers alike."
Perry Lee
Auto PC Program Manager
Microsoft

Founded in 1996, Telcontar delivers industrial strength map management, allowing manufacturers of map databases, navigational devices and traffic information service providers to deliver the ultimate navigational solutions to consumers and businesses. By integrating with a variety of dashboard and handheld devices, as well as traditional PC computing arrangements, Telcontar’s solutions are ideal for automotive, personal and security navigational applications. The company strives to be the de-facto standard by providing fast, powerful, and flexible access to base map data, base map source independence, efficient data compression and storage, and ease of integration, providing accelerated development for quicker time to market. Telcontar’s solutions support Windows CE (AutoPC), ’95, ’98 and NT, as well as UNIX.

The privately held San Jose, California-based company leverages its close relationships with GPS leader Trimble Navigation, developer of the first all-in-one portable car navigation system Datus, and is a Microsoft AutoPC partner. The company also is active in ISO standards and is committed to supporting the standards established by the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium (AMIC), a group of key automobile manufacturers including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and Volvo. Telcontar’s unique approach validates the industry-wide movement toward open systems, and ensures that all manner of geo-spatial data can be easily employed in a platform-independent environment, making navigation/information delivery to the consumer efficient and uncomplicated.

Telcontar believes that there is a consumer and commercial market need for a high-technology replacement of paper map if it could be ultimately priced under $200 and provide timely map updates, map editing, route finding with real-time traffic conditions, and offer security and a spectrum of concierge services. This map replacement product would only be possible if a solution were found to critical spatial database problems, integrating microcomputer, Global Positioning System (GPS) and cellular telephone/modem technologies within a client/server architecture. Telcontar`s patent pending technology and new multi-dimensional spatial data access method is the solution to the spatial database problems. The company`s Rich Map Engine and Compiler are the resulting products.

The company`s evolutionary path started with the development of Atlas Speaks and Strider, the first talking map and talking GPS-based personal locator designed for people with visual and reading disabilities. The precursor to the Rich Map Engine was developed and proven in its ability to accurately present a complete verbal description of map topology and geometry. This product was critically acclaimed, being chosen a finalist in the Discovery Channel Technology competition and featured on the Discovery Channel, Date Line, ABC, NBC, and BBC news programs. The founders recognized the commercial potential of the technology and formed Telcontar. Market acceptance was realized by the early adoption of the Rich Map Engine by Daimler-Chrysler Research & Development, Vicinity Corporation and Informix.

The founders of Telcontar have a combined 80 years of experience in the computer and GIS industry, with proven strengths in:

integrating new technologies to create innovative products
identifying new markets, and
creating new distribution channels for those products within the framework of successful and profitable business.


Telcontar products

"We realized that finding a better way to organize and manage our map and geo-spatial data was key to improving the efficiency and profitability of our system. Telcontar fit the bill wonderfully. Without [the Telcontar Rich Map Engine], serving map requests may have become so expensive it could have become unprofitable."
Scott Young
Vice President of Operations
Vicinity Corporation

Telcontar’s first product is the Telcontar Rich Map Engine. Available now, the Rich Map Engine provides an unparalleled customizable set of management, compression and rendering tools for client/server navigational/informational applications. Rich Map Engine delivers virtual navigation, rapid retrieval of map information based on real-time GPS position, dynamic customization of the base map, map rendering with output directly to screen, or in a variety of file formats, and route finding in vehicle and pedestrian modes.

The Rich Map Engine accesses the user’s base map with a unique style of search indexes – the Telcontar Geo/Spatial Search Keys. An innovative technique for organizing large volumes of geo-spatial data, this technology allows efficient drawing and labeling, navigation, route finding, and search, while giving the user full editing capabilities. Rich Map is robust; able to work with very large base maps with very fine detail, then store the data along with added layers, annotations, even sounds and images. Platform independent, Rich Map’s data is seamlessly transported between different databases.

The major components of Rich Map Engine work in concert to deliver unparalleled navigational information management, storage and delivery:

The Rich Map Core Library provides lightning-quick access to the compiled Rich Map data and manages the Geo/Spatial search keys. The Library filters data by location, by priority, and by category. Included are samples of source code for the fast and flexible 2D Rendering with support for complex cartographic operations (including panning, zoom, rotation, dynamic labeling of lines and polygons, label collision avoidance and continuous detail simplification while zooming), city and street address look-up, plus an example of US Census TIGER data in Rich Map format.

The Rich Map Route Finding Library lets the user select a destination, then determines the best path to it, with selectable preferences for vehicle and pedestrian modes. Using proprietary enhancements to the industry-standard A* algorithm, Route Finding adjusts to automobile, truck, pedestrian, and multi-modal travel. To support real-time traffic conditions, this tool works seamlessly with the Attribute Edit Library to route through recently edited data without recompiling.

The Rich Map Attribute Edit Library allows map features (both geometric and topological) and map attributes to be added, modified, or deleted. Updates are logged and indexed by both position and time sequence, so edits can be easily rolled backward and forward through any revision sequence.

The Rich Map Database-Overlay Library uses the Geo/Spatial Key technology to bring fast, efficient retrieval to standard off-the-shelf database management systems. Using the Core Library, Database-Overlay maintains indexed clusters of data embedded in a conventional DBMS table. When queried, this software identifies subsets of the table, which contain corresponding geometric features. Subset identification can be used stand-alone, or can be combined with other SQL "where-clause" criteria.

The Rich Map Client/Server Libraries extend Rich Map’s powerful data retrieval, routing, editing, and rendering capabilities to a distributed Client/Server product. Fast, efficient performance is maintained by managing Client-side data caching and Server-side data retrieval and computation tasks. The Client/Server Libraries exchange information via a JAVA™ based stateless, proprietary messaging protocol which can be piggy-backed on traditional transport protocols such as TCP/IP, running efficiently at standard communications rates (28.8/33.33 KB) and even low rates such as 4800 Baud.

The Rich Map Compiler creates Rich Map Format optimized data, a highly compressed, I/O-optimized, binary, general-purpose format for storing all types of map data: street maps, aviation charts, nautical charts, and topographic maps. Based on Telcontar Geo/Spatial Search Keys, the Compiler supports virtually unlimited editing as well as encryption techniques for data security. Compilation is very fast – an urban area the size and density of Los Angeles takes less than 30 minutes. The format’s compact form and powerful performance make the Compiler ideal for demanding consumer and commercial applications. Currently supported platforms are Windows 95™, Window 98™ and Windows NT™ 4.0.

The Rich Map eXchange Filters translate commercial and public map data into Rich Map Format. Supported data sources include:

Geographic Data Technology Dynamap/Transportation
Geographic Data Technology Dynamap/2000
Etak MapBase
Tele Atlas GDF 3.X
Navigation Technologies GDF 3.X
US Census TIGER
Shobunsha CITY MAPPLE Digital Data (Japan)
Japan Digital Road Map Association (JDRMA)
ESRI Shape Files
Various other European and Pacific Rim data formats
Supported environments include Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT™ 4.0, Windows CE™ (x86, SH3, and MIPS processors), and Unix operating systems. All libraries are in C.

Management team

William C. Schwegler, President and CEO
The team is led by Bill Schwegler, Telcontar’s president and CEO. Schwegler brings to Telcontar 17 years of experience in the computer industry and experience as a founder of two previous start-up companies. Bill has extensive skill in integrating new technologies to create innovative products, as well as identifying new markets and creating new distribution channels for those products within the framework of successful and profitable business.

Brian Smartt, Vice President for Product Development
Brian Smartt is vice president for product development. Smartt brings to Telcontar 13 years experience in GIS-related industries with particular focus on designing and implementing map database management systems and applications. He has a proven track record of creating new technologies and architecting robust products and systems. Brian is the inventor of the fundamentally new data management method that is the foundation of Telcontar’s technology.

Robert Serafini, Vice President for Sales and Marketing
Bob Serafini is vice president for sales and marketing. Serafini brings to Telcontar 30 years of experience in the computer industry, with 15 years of specific senior-level responsibility for computer sales and marketing projects. Bob has extensive skill in creating new markets, building sales channels, and effectively integrating corporate resources. Most recently, Bob spent six years as vice president of sales for ADP Brokerage Information Services.