Outdoor Navigator for Smartphone Released!

[Guest jeffrey.siegel@activ]

Immediate Release

Cells Phones – A New Ring to Outdoor Safety and Navigation

Turn Your Windows Mobile Smartphone into an Outdoor Atlas

60,000 Off-Road Maps and Boating Charts for only $20!

Maptech, Amesbury, MA – Some of us plan our outdoor escapes while others like to wing it and set-off without much preparation. But in both cases, having a detailed map or chart is a big advantage – both for navigation and safety. And now you can have it on your cell phone. Maptech's Outdoor Navigator for Windows Mobile Smartphone has more than 60,000 off-road maps and boating charts for $19.95. Take your adventure anywhere in the USA.

Benefits:

Better safety: Maybe you're like Daniel Boone who once claimed, "I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days." That line gets a laugh every time, but talk to someone who got lost, even if it was for just an hour or two, and you will see just how unnerving it really is.

Get to your destination and back again safely in the dark or any weather. With Outdoor Navigator on a Smartphone you not only have the right maps and charts to know where you are, but if needed you can now call and tell your location. Imagine the peace of mind knowing where you are and having a phone to call for help.

Mark Jadkowski, Vice President at Maptech says, "Outdoor Navigator opens a new hi-tech door to the outdoors, and Smartphone technology makes it very practical and cost effective. With a 20-hour battery life a Smartphone coupled with an optional, inexpensive GPS is all you need to take full advantage of Maptech's maps. We are excited for the millions of folks who love to boat, hike, fish, and hunt and explore the great outdoors. Not only will they discover new areas to enjoy, but now they can feel a lot safer having all the maps and charts that they need on their Smartphone – with or without GPS."

Great value: Most serious and experienced outdoor adventurers know the value of taking the right off-road maps with them. But this is not always convenient and can be costly. USGS (United States Geological Survey) topo maps are the recognized standard for off-road adventures because they give you the complete map detail. This gives you an understanding of the lay of the land and allows you to assess your ability to meet whatever challenge you plan. But a single map can cost anywhere from $4 to $6. With Outdoor Navigator you get thousands of these same maps for your Smartphone for under $20. The same value is present with nautical charts where comparable paper charts sell for around $20 each. Outdoor Navigator includes 2,300 boating charts.

Highlights:

• Outdoor Navigator works on Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Pocket PCs and Palm devices.

• Priced at $19.95 Outdoor Navigator has no subscription fees.

• Off-road maps and boating charts are included for the entire continental US. There is no additional cost.

• Check out the free trial at www.outdoornavigator.com.

• Connect an optional Bluetooth GPS (about $120) to show your position on the map.

Computer Requirements: Windows 2000/XP PC. The PC is used to download maps from outdoornavigator.com and transfer them to the handheld device.

Smartphone Requirements: Windows Mobile for Smartphone 2002 or 2003 or later. A memory card is not required but is recommended. GPS is optional. If GPS is desired Bluetooth GPS is recommended.

More Information: Contact Maptech www.maptech.com or call 1-888-839-5551.

Martin Fox, PR Manager 888-433-8500 (Press Contact # only) [email protected]

Maptech, Inc., 10 Industrial Way, Amesbury, MA 01913 www.maptech.com

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[Guest jeffrey.siegel@activ]

Official high resolution and low resolution picture for Outdoor Navigator for Smartphone can be found at:

http://www.maptech.com/pr/doc.cfm?docid=420

-and-

http://www.maptech.com/pr/doc.cfm?docid=419

Edited February 16, 2005 by jeffrey.siegel@activ

[Guest mcwarre]

Any chance this will have a UK version???

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

Outdoor Navigator are working on a UK version, watch this space :lol:

[Guest mavisdavis]

yep email sent off to Jeff just waiting for his reply on UK Maps. It works with a Fortuna BT clipon gps unit by the way :lol:

Been waiting for this for ages

[Guest jeffrey.siegel@activ]

yep email sent off to Jeff just waiting for his reply on UK Maps. It works with a Fortuna BT clipon gps unit by the way :lol:

Been waiting for this for ages

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm using some UKHO chart CD's right now with the next version of Outdoor Manager (to be released in a couple of months). That will support nautical charts for a lot of the world. For international topo support, write emails to Maptech and tell them that you want them. That will make a difference.

[Guest nedge2k]

Cool!

This would come in so handy for when the rally is on :lol: and all for $20 too!

Cant wait for the UK ver

[Guest sponge]

Encouraging people to use electronic devices in place of maps or charts is dangerous and irresponsible. They should only be used as a secondary means of navigation.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

While you can never replace a real map as such, the problem remains that unless you have the knowledge of how to read a real map correctly

with the aid of a compass, it may as well be as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

This application has it's uses and will be a valuble additional tool to have.

You will find a lot of people will use this for things like casual walking etc and not expeditions. Most will not have the relevant training required to use a map and compass correctly so as an aid and with GPS it is better than having nothing of use at all.

[Guest jeffrey.siegel@activ]

Encouraging people to use electronic devices in place of maps or charts is dangerous and irresponsible. They should only be used as a secondary means of navigation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Encouraging people to use a paper map alone is just as dangerous and irresponsible. In the best of all cases, you'd have both a real map and an electronic one...