SAN DIEGO, Oct. 8 - Intelligent Transportation Society of America member NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data for in-vehicle, portable, wireless and enterprise solutions has announced today at International CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2009®, that Motorway Junction Objects are now available in North America. This groundbreaking product enables NAVTEQ customers to design navigation system functionality that supports drivers in making critical maneuver decisions when approaching complex highway junctions.

Reducing driver frustration and stress at the time they need it most is the goal of this product. It accomplishes this by enabling for the first time, navigation system display of relevant and accurate animated 3D visual cues to simplify complex maneuvers. And, because Motorway Junction Objects are built from key attributes and geometry of the highly accurate NAVTEQ® map, it is easier to include additional NAVTEQ content such as 3D Landmarks and Sign-As-Real, replication of the actual highway signs, further improving driver orientation.

Avoidance of last minute lane changes and reduction in instances of taking the wrong exit are now possible for more than 2,000 decision points in North America, and more than 8,000 globally. For example, as a driver approaches a series of exits and interchanges, the application can smoothly transition from the 2D display to the more realistic 3D animation, highlighting the correct lane and signs to follow, well in advance of the approaching maneuver. Continued 3D animation through the maneuver provides the added assurance that the driver took the correct exit, contributing to a less stressful and more enjoyable journey.

Motorway Junction Objects was designed with insights from proprietary consumer research on the cognitive recognition aspect of visual aids. The research found that consumers see high value in solutions that simplify complex situations, allowing for split-second recognition of visual cues which require their attention and action.

"Our research shows that processing visual cues is most valuable when targeted to the information that will improve the end-users orientation upon approaching the complex junction," stated Cindy Paulauskas, vice president of product marketing, Americas. "Eliminating extraneous clutter and providing only relevant information at critical and complex decision points is key to Motorway Junction Object's product design. It's all about making driving easier, not more entertaining."

Another industry milestone offered by the product is the ability for customers to easily change the junction's look and feel in their navigation applications. Because much of today's visual content offerings are based on photographic or static images, details such as color, texture, animation and display perspective can be expensive to customize. The product's inherent design flexibility not only makes this a simpler task, supporting customers' brand identity and product differentiation, three different levels of detail are also available to accommodate different hardware and software configurations.

NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data that enables navigation and location-based platforms around the world. NAVTEQ supplies comprehensive digital map information to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 4,400 employees located in 192 offices and in 43 countries.