ABI Maps Out Navigation Market

US-based ABI Research has this week launched a subscriber database with information on the fast-growing and increasingly complex navigation device market. The offering forms part of ABI's updated Automotive Infotainment Research Service.

The database, aimed at execs in the GPS navigation and LBS industries, details nearly all of the world's navigation products and services, with information on pricing, hardware and features searchable for hundreds of devices.

According to ABI Director of Transportation Research, Frank Viquez, 'We developed this database to help our customers truly appreciate the new competition in the navigation space. There are vendors out of Taiwan and Korea that are poised to match established vendors such as TomTom and Garmin feature-for-feature, and this fact magnifies the need for a thorough documentation of the industry landscape. Analysts from around the world have contributed to it, and we're proud to offer it to our clients.'

The database will be continuously updated and is searchable by identifiers such as feature set, traffic connectivity, embedded OS, hardware characteristics such as RAM and screen size, and even original device manufacturer. Results can be viewed online or exported into spreadsheet format.

The latest market update of the service focuses on market migration into the portable navigation segment by traditional consumer electronics and aftermarket vendors. 'Big names such as Alpine, Panasonic, Pioneer and Sony realized the popularity of this segment, and demonstrated their own initial offerings in the first quarter of this year,' comments Dan Benjamin, Principal Analyst for the Transportation practice. 'It remains to be seen whether name recognition and current distribution channels will be enough to propel these devices to success. I'm disappointed that they have been unable to differentiate themselves from navigation-specific vendors on features or usability, and have given up precious time-to-market.'

The company is online at www.abiresearch.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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