Navigation Technologies Launches Voice Enabled Map Data for United States

CHICAGO, Oct. 30 -- Navigation Technologies, a leading provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation, Internet/wireless applications and business solutions today announced that voice transcriptions of its United States NAVTECH® map database are now available. NAVTECH Voice Data increases the functionality of navigation systems by reducing recognition complexities, improving output accuracy and expanding the system use beyond basic commands. NAVTECH Voice Data is currently available for the company's map databases for Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

NAVTECH Voice Data includes transcriptions for Street Names, Administrative Areas, Points of Interest (POI) and general data such as POI category names and restaurant types. In addition, the same set of data transcriptions can be used with either Automated Speech Recognition or Text- to-Speech technology.

Using Text-to-Speech and Automated Speech Recognition technology to interpret abbreviations, alternate pronunciations and other variants, NAVTECH Voice Data brings a higher degree of precision to navigation applications.

Variant Example

Abbreviation RT stands for Route

Contextual Variants CO, meaning county, company or Colorado -- NT Voice data has rules for distinguishing pronunciation based on nearby words

Local Pronunciations Los Angeles versus Los Alamos -- Los Alamos is pronounced with a long "O," or traditional Spanish pronunciation, while Los Angeles is pronounced with a short "O"

Speech Conventions Navigation Technologies Voice Data sets a preference for names that can be pronounced in several ways. For instance, "Route 101" has several pronunciations contained in the phonetic data base; "Route OneOhOne" is preferred over "Route 100 and One"

Synonyms Los Angeles International Airport or LAX International Airport

Many of today's navigation systems use generic, audible directions like "turn right" or "stay to the left." With the integration of voice transcriptions into NAVTECH data, navigation systems will offer the correct pronunciation of specific spoken directions like turn left onto "North Michigan Avenue" or "El Camino Real."

"Voice technology can dramatically improve the way consumers use navigation devices," said John MacLeod, Executive Vice President, North America & World Markets, Navigation Technologies Corporation. "By creating voice data that truly personalizes the map, Navigation Technologies is providing the foundation for expanded functionality, added convenience and an enhanced user experience."

About Navigation Technologies

Navigation Technologies creates digital maps that power navigation and location-based services around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and is privately held. The Company's 1,200 employees are in over 100 offices in 18 countries. For more information, visit http://www.navtech.com .