Press Release:

World News: Finalists revealed for the 2008 Telematics Awards

Every year the Telematics Awards, organised by the industry’s only global print publication – Telematics Update – recognizes and celebrates the key companies that are driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in automotive and GPS technology.

Finalists for these awards stand out in an industry where innovation is expected as the norm and companies clamour for publicity, platform and prestige.

"This year has been a record year for nominations and we were inundated with quality nominations" says Precksha Saksena, Project Director and Editor of Telematics Update Magazine. "The response has been almost overwhelming. This year"s winners will be celebrated as true leaders in a year that has seen industry innovation exceeding expectations all round"

Over the past six months, hundreds of companies have nominated themselves or their partners and clients through the Telematics Awards website. An independent panel of automotive and wireless industry experts have analyzed the submissions and individually narrowed down each category to these finalists (in alphabetical order by company):

Telematics Leadership Award (Individual)

  • Alain De Taeye, Co Founder & CEO, Tele Atlas
  • Bryan Mistele, President & CEO, Inrix, Inc.
  • Erik Goldman, President, HUGHES Telematics
  • Joe Berry, SYNC Product & Business Development, Ford
  • Mike Bryars, Senior Manager, Infotainment, Telematics Operations, Freescale Semiconductors
  • Tsuguo Nobe, General Manager, Nissan

2007 –2008 Industry Newcomer Award

  • Autonet Mobile
  • Dash Navigation, Inc.
  • Making Virtual Solid
  • MSN Direct
  • NAVIGON
  • SkyWay Systems, Inc.

Best Embedded Telematics Service Award

  • BMW
  • Clear Channel
  • CSR
  • Gracenote
  • HUGHES Telematics
  • infoUSA

Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product Award

  • BMW
  • HYUNDAI AUTONET
  • Magneti Marelli
  • Microsoft - Automotive Business Unit
  • Nissan
  • OnStar
  • XM Satellite Radio

Best Portable Telematics Solution Award

  • Airbiquity
  • Clear Channel
  • Exel together with O2
  • Global Mobile Alert Corporation
  • Ipoki.com
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • RoadGuard
  • T-mobile

Best Portable Navigation System Award

  • Dash Navigation, Inc.
  • Garmin
  • Magellan
  • NAVIGON
  • Networks in Motion and AAA
  • T-Systems Traffic GmbH

Best Aftermarket Device Award

  • Azentek
  • Autonet Mobile
  • HYUNDAI AUTONET
  • Orange Business Services
  • SkyWay Systems, Inc.
  • Yazaki

Best Telematics Component Solution Award

  • Freescale Seminconductor
  • Intel Corporation
  • Jasper Wireless
  • Nuance Communications
  • ProSyst Software GmbH
  • Renesas Technology America, Inc.
  • BMW, WirelessCar, Connexis for the NGTP initiative

Best Use of Telematics Technology for the Public Sector Award

  • Airbiquity
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Inrix
  • Inthinc inc.
  • OnStar
  • Tele Atlas
  • Trimble Navigation Limited

Best Telematics Service & Application for Commercial Vehicles Award

  • Ford Motor Company
  • LoJack Corporation
  • Maptuit
  • TomTom
  • Trimble Navigation Limited
  • T-Systems Enterprise Services GmbH

Global Car Manufacturer Innovation Award

  • Audi AG
  • BMW of North America, LLC
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Microsoft together with Ford Sync
  • Volvo

Commenting on NAVIGON making the cut in both Industry Newcomer and Best Portable System, Andreas Hecht NAVIGON’s President of the Americas, says: “We are very pleased to be recognized by Telematics for our achievements and innovations in the personal navigation device market. With our first line of branded PNDs we introduced exclusive features that have a direct impact on consumers’ navigation experience such as Reality View and Lifetime Traffic, which has proven to be a great success. It is wonderful to receive validation for our approach through our selection as a finalist for both Industry Newcomer and Best Portable System for the NAVIGON 2100 max, one of our most innovative products.”  

Dr. Eckhard Steinmeier, Head of BMW ConnectedDrive, Telematics Business Development at BMW, says: ‘‘On behalf of the NGTP team, BMW along with WirelessCar and Connexis are proud to be considered for the Telematics Update award. Being a finalist indicates that we are working in the right direction according to our peers and we hope this work benefits the industry as a whole”.

“LoJack Corporation is proud to be nominated as a finalist for this year’s Best Telematics Service & Application for Commercial Vehicles Award.  We believe that our LoCate telematics offering bundled with our flagship LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System delivers the commercial industry’s most complete solution for both effectively managing assets to maximize operational efficiencies and drive profitability, as well as protecting equipment from the costly problem of theft.” Jeremy Warnick, LoJack Corporation.

“We’re honored that our product AAA Mobile® was selected as a finalist in the Telematics Awards,” said Doug Antone, President and CEO for Networks In Motion. “This further validates that mobile phone navigation is a strong competitor to personal navigation devices.”

“Safeco is proud to stand behind Teensurance as a leading telematics solution that helps parents coach teenagers to drive safely,” said Jim Havens, Vice President of Customer Solutions at Safeco. “Technology fuels Safeco’s new approach to insurance and the nomination for the Telematics Industry Newcomer Award is a proof point to our strong commitment in this space.”

Telematics Update magazine will reveal all the winners at the exclusive awards dinner on 20 May 2008 at the Hotel Baronette that will open the 8th annual Telematics Detroit 2008 Conference and Exhibition, May 21-22, 2008 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Michigan, Novi.

More information visit:

http://www.telematicsupdate.com/detroit2008/conference_index.shtml
https://secure.firstconf.com/auto/detroit2008/register.htm

Contact:

Amy Johnsonbaugh or Mike Kilroy
Maples Communications, Inc.
949-855-3555
ajohnsonbaugh@maples.com
mkilroy@maples.com

Steve Andler
Networks In Motion, Inc.
949-453-3807
sandler@networksinmotion.com