Verizon Wireless announced the VZ Navigator, its first foray into the LBS market. The tool gives customers mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to find more than 14 million points of interest. It's initially available on the Motorola V325. Operators have been treading carefully. Sprint Nextel has quietly begun to cross over Nextel's already proven enterprise GPS Java applications, such as navigation services, to the consumer market. Analysts expected Verizon Wireless to make its LBS push in 2005. The operator announced early last year that it was working with partners to develop a series of applications that include turn-by-turn driving directions and geofencing with a commercial offering planned for the third quarter of 2005. Verizon is clearly concerned about meeting customer expectations and dealing with privacy issues.
For more about Verizon's LBS offering:
- check out this press release from Verizon Wireless