Aliant, Atlantic Canada’s leading information and communications technology provider, announced the launch of GPS Nav – an innovative new wireless service that provides Aliant customers with turn-by-turn, GPS-enabled driving directions, similar to an in-car navigation system.

The easy-to-use, safe and convenient service includes full-color, 3D moving maps, voice and on-screen navigation, and information and directions to many businesses, including airports, hotels and restaurants across Atlantic Canada.

“Aliant customers will enjoy using this high-quality, easy-to-use new service anytime and anywhere, whether at work, home or somewhere in between.” says Paul Pothier, Director, Business Sales. “This service also provides customers with peace of mind as they navigate their way around a new town, work site or vacation destination.”

Detailed features of the GPS Nav service:

    * Voice and on-screen turn-by-turn driving directions – Customers can type in or use voice recognition to call-in destinations, and GPS Nav computes the routes. While driving, users get up-to-the minute guidance, including street names, and will automatically be re-routed if a turn is missed.
    * Full-color 3D moving maps – Just like an in-car navigation system, the 3D maps turn, move and stop along with the driver, while also displaying a realistic image of the streets the driver is approaching and passing. Users can also pan and zoom around the map to view surrounding streets.
    * Biz Finder (local search) – Customers can look up several businesses in Atlantic Canada, including ATMs, restaurants, hotels, Aliant (Wi-Fi) Hotspots and gas stations, and easily navigate to them with the click of a button.
    * Spot Marker – Users can mark waypoints to help find their way back to a location or to record points of interest.
    * Pedestrian Mode – GPS Nav can be used while walking to help guide customers through crowded downtown streets or back to a parked car.
    * My Favorites – Customers can save as many addresses as needed for easy access and directions later.

Aliant customers can download GPS Nav directly from their Blackberry 8830 smartphone. Aliant is working with TeleNav – the first company to launch a GPS navigation service for mobile devices in North America – to provide this service to its customers. The service will be available on other Aliant wireless devices in the near future. The service is not intended to be used in emergency situations.

For more information on GPS Nav from Aliant please visit the Cellular/Mobility section of aliant.net.

Other location-based services launched by Aliant:

This past August, Aliant launched four new location based services (LBS) exclusively for its wireless customers. Through the combination of innovative wireless and Internet technology, Aliant now offers the ability to determine the location of a wireless device and provide personalized applications and services based on that location.

    * Seek & Find provides peace of mind for today’s busy parents by allowing them to view the location of their children, in “real time”, from an Internet connection.  Features include regular location alerts that can be set to correspond with daily routines, such as arrivals from work or school, and customized pass codes and permission requirements to access and use the service.
    * It’s important that businesses be as productive and efficient as possible.  With GoTrax, customers can locate employees, in “real-time”, on an interactive map.  It means that employees can be dispatched more quickly, response times can be improved and fleet can be better managed and scheduled.
    * Roadside Assistance subscribers have worry-free roadside assistance throughout North America, just by having a wireless device in the vehicle. With a customer’s consent, Roadside Assistance uses location based technology to help determine a mobile phone location.  It’s accessible wherever there is coverage in Canada and the United States – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    * By simply dialing #TAXI (#8-2-9-4) from their mobile phone, customers can instantly and easily order a taxi cab anywhere in Canada.  #TAXI uses the location of the mobile phone to help determine all available cab companies able to serve the caller and then makes the connection.

Source: Aliant