Live Traffic comes to Mobile Navigator
It's coming! Navigon, maker of the iPhone Mobile Navigator app [iTunes link], will announce a live traffic feature tomorrow that will be rolled out next month. The update is only for the North American version of the software.
Our readers have absolutely lusted after this feature for iPhone navigation, and now, after already adding text to speech in an update earlier this month, Navigon has pulled ahead of the pack again.
According to the company:
The system 'uses real-time speed data from over one million drivers across North America including commercial fleets such as trucks and taxis but also regular drivers with a GPS system. So if for example several vehicles on a road report slow speed, the system recognizes congestion and provides an alternate and faster route.
The feature also uses an intelligent fusion of information from traffic cameras, speed sensors and conventional traffic messages coming through a radio network. In addition, the system includes historic traffic data to assist with the prediction of road conditions when calculating a route. This includes information about traffic conditions on certain holidays or yearly events, allowing the driver to avoid taking routes that traditionally are congested on a regular basis.
Navigon has announced that the traffic info, which they call Traffic Live, will be available as an in-app purchase for US$19.99 for the first 4 weeks it is offered, then it will cost $24.99 as a one time purchase with no other month to month service fees.
The software, which will run inside the $89.99 Mobile Navigator software, requires iPhone OS version 3.0 or greater.
Navigon has been very aggressive with this product, raising the bar every couple of weeks with some substantial free updates, and now some significant optional services. It will be interesting to see how Tom-Tom and some of the other navigation providers respond. The AT&T Navigator [iTunes link] app already includes real time traffic, but it is available only with a $9.99 a month subscription fee.
