Ericsson looks to enter mobile navigation business

Ericsson plans on entering the mobile navigation business, and announced that it would partner with wireless navigation company Networks In Motion to offer customers turn-by-turn directions branded for wireless carriers, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

NIM and Ericsson have talked with several carriers but haven't yet signed any deals, according to Laurence McDonald, Ericsson's head of consumer and business applications. Revenue from consumers, who will typically pay $4 to $7 a month, will be shared among Ericsson, NIM and the carrier.

"It's a good complement to use our installed base to get carriers more applications that can drive traffic on their networks," McDonald told the Journal.

Ericsson, the world's largest wireless network equipment maker, will be entering a market that is growing increasingly crowded. Nokia bought GPS firm Navteq for $8.1 billion in October 2007, and GPS company Garmin recently announced a partnership with Asustek Computer to make smartphones.  

For more:
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- see this release [2]

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