Location Based Systems

According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in Europe was two million in Q4-2010. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.7 per cent, this number is expected to reach five million by 2015.

Garmin and the shareholders of Navigon have signed an agreement for a subsidiary of Garmin to acquire privately-held navigation provider Navigon. As part of the deal, Garmin is also acquiring one of the top-selling navigation applications for the iPhone and Android platforms – something the company expects will help drive revenue for the combined company going forward.

Fujitsu has announced the July launch of a cloud service that employs location data gathered from vehicles and a variety of sensors and which the company is calling Spatiowl. It consists of two different service types: platform-provisioning service and task-oriented services.

ZoomSafer, a provider of risk management software to prevent distracted driving, and Ovation Wireless Management, provider of enterprise mobile device management solutions, have announced a new partnership that integrates ZoomSafer’s FleetSafer policy management solutions with Ovation's mobile device management software to enable companies to monitor employee compliance with mobile phone use policies. ZoomSafer offers two enterprise software services for enforcing cell phone use policies. FleetSafer Vision,

GreenRoad, a specialist in driver performance and fuel efficiency, has announced that City Link, the UK's leading premium express delivery company, has gone live with GreenRoad 360 in 280 vans at 14 depots throughout the country.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has developed an onboard navigation system compatible with the vehicle-infrastructure cooperative Driving Safety Support System (DSSS) scheduled for launch by the Japanese National Police Agency in Japan next month. The five main features of the new system, which provides timely audio and visual warnings and notifications to drivers, are red light warning, stop sign warning, stationary vehicle ahead warning, blind corner vehicle presence notification, and green light advance n

As part of the New Hungary Development Plan, NNG has developed a new, automotive line-fit navigation solution based on the iGO My way engine. The company, which was awarded an EU subsidy for the 18-month development project, has now delivered its first line-fit navigation product to a market-leading global motor-vehicle Tier 1 supplier.

Honeywell has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EMS Technologies, a provider of connectivity solutions for mobile networking, rugged mobile computers, and satellite communications, for approximately $491 million. Honeywell says the acquisition will enhance its existing capabilities in rugged mobile computing technologies and satellite communications within its Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) and Aerospace businesses.

The results of the latest traffic study from TomTom are in, revealing some of the most congested hotspots in Europe. Brussels is still topping the chart as the most congested city in Europe and congestion in the Belgian Capital is getting worse, showing a 1.2% increase in traffic since 2010.

TomTom has announced it is expanding its footprint in Latin America to encompass coverage of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, French Guiana, the French Overseas Territories and Venezuela. By broadening map coverage in this strategic region, the company says it is equipping industry partners with high quality content to enable location-based services.