Navigation Technologies and SiRF Technology, Inc. initiated this effort in hopes of igniting interest in, and awareness of, the growing market for LBS applications.

Contestants can register online. All LBS applications must use NAVTECH Maps. NAVTECH Maps are available on the contest web site in six different formats (SIF+, GDF, ArcView, ArcInfo, MapInfo, and Oracle Spatial) along with guidelines to help contestants select the most appropriate format for each specific programming language.

The suggested solution areas include, but are not limited, to: enterprise, mapping services, navigation, tourist information, traffic, field services, friend finders, inventory tracking, location-based advertising, location-based gaming, emergency services, and points-of-interest look-ups.

Contest registration closes on November 14th, 2003. All solutions must be submitted by February 3rd, 2004 and received by February 10th, 2004. Selected Navigation Technologies and SiRF Technology's employees will complete the first round of judging by February 27th, 2004. This round of judging is based on the following criteria: applicability, functionality, design, and solution overview.

Contest semi-finalists will be notified no later than March 1st and will be invited to attend the CTIA Wireless 2004 Expo to demonstrate their solutions. Final judging will take place in March 2004 at the spring CTIA show in Atlanta, GA. Executives from wireless carriers, hardware and device manufacturers, and industry analyst organizations will judge the semi-finalists' solutions and select a winner at the show. The judges will base their final decision on two criteria: usability and utility.

Both individuals and companies can enter the contest. Individuals must be legal United States residents and at least 21 years of age. Companies must be legal entities. Grand prize winners receive $100,000 worth of NAVTECH Map licenses for up to one year and an advertising package from Mobile Media valued at $20,000. Second runners-up will receive extended development and demonstration rights to further their product development efforts.

"Navigation Technologies is proud to take a leadership role in promoting wireless location-based services. The Wireless LBS Challenge creates an opportunity for location application developers by building awareness of the many unique ways to use location information. The support we have received from wireless carries, device manufacturers and industry experts solidifies the interest in and potential for location-based services. We are excited to see and experience the winning application," said Winston Guillory, senior vice president of North American sales for Navigation Technologies.

"The location-based services market is burgeoning because they deliver value-added revenues for wireless carriers, and an endless array of useful applications for consumers and enterprises alike," according to Kanwar Chadha, founder and vice president of marketing for SiRF. "We hope that initiatives such as this challenge serve to inspire the creativity of developers to ultimately deliver convenient applications to consumers, and productivity- enhancing applications to businesses."

Related Links
Wireless LBS Challenge
Navigation Technologies
SiRF Technology
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