Nokia to bring real time traffic updates to phones
updated 09:45 am EDT, Tue April 29, 2008
Nokia offers RTTI
Finland-based cell phone-maker Nokia on Tuesday announced it will team up with ARC Transistance, the European automobile club network, to provide users of its phones with Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI). The service will be offered as an option with a subscription fee in Nokia Maps 2.0 and any newer Nokia software. Thanks to RTTI, drivers will benefit from shorter commutes as their phone's navigation systems will now be able to inform them of any timely congestion, construction or crashes in their way and re-route as required.
The RTTI service is an add-on to any Nokia device that has built-in GPS navigation with turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance. The vector maps are provided by TeleAtlas and Navteq, making the offering independent of Nokia's recent Navteq bid.
Nokia Beta Labs offers the latest mapping software, Nokia Maps 2.0, free for download to be used in countries across the globe for compatible Nokia devices. Unlike in devices such as the iPhone, the maps can be accessed without the need to connect to the Internet.
The ARC Transistance RTTI service for Nokia devices is currently available in 16 European countries but is expected to expand.
