Aspiro releases City Guide 2.0 with support of automatic geographic positioning and location based services

Aspiro releases City Guide 2.0 with support of automatic geographic positioning and location based services Mobile Internet services provider, Aspiro, will launch its new version of City Guide at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, February 20-23. City Guide 2.0, a mobile service application supplying detailed and complete information for over 280 cities around the world, now features support of automatic geographic positioning and location based services. Aspiro's City Guide application has been updated to include support of automatic geographic positioning and location based services. Automatic positioning technology allows the user to automatically pinpoint their present location and Aspiro's City Guide 2.0 supports various positioning technologies used by operators world wide. The location based service functions allow users to view maps and receive route directions directly in their mobile phones. For location based services in the City Guide 2.0, Aspiro has partnered with Webraska, the worldwide provider of wireless navigation services and technologies, and Genimap Oy, the Finnish market leader in customized location information solutions, location based internet and mobile applications, and digital and printed map publishing. The location based service function can be used either in conjunction with an automatic positioning system or independently and has three main features: mapping, users can view maps of the city they are visiting, routing, detailed route directions for how to reach one place from another, and ranking, which allows the user to find the points of interest closest to his/her present location. City Guide 2.0 currently covers some 280 cities and major towns around the world. The content is always available in English and the local language of the city and many major cities are available in multiple languages. Last November, City Guide 1.0 was nominated in the category for "best use of WAP for a consumer application" at the annual W@P Awards ceremony held by WAP-Forum. The new City Guide 2.0 will be launched at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, February 20-23. Also attending will be Genimap Oy and Webraska. "We're very excited about working with Genimap Oy and Webraska, both of whom are experts in their field," says Lena Wittbjer, CEO of Aspiro. "Their location based service technology brings an exciting new dimension to our mobile City Guide service that many users will find indispensable." For more information, please contact: Helena Gynnerstedt, Press Officer, Aspiro AB, tel: +46 (0)40-630 0300 About Aspiro Aspiro provides mobile Internet services, promoting life in motion, using cutting-edge knowledge and technologies. Aspiro offers operators, portals, content providers and mobile organizations a wide range of solutions, from pre-packaged portal services to industry-specific solutions. Founded in 1998, Aspiro is today an important player in the global mobile Internet market. 133 people currently work for the company, which has offices in Sweden, Luxembourg and USA. Aspiro's business concept, organization and operations are based on many years of experience gained in the mobile telecommunications and IT industries. For further information about Aspiro, please visit www.aspiro.com About Webraska Webraska is the worldwide provider of wireless navigation, spatial searching, mapping and traffic information services and technologies for telecom operators and car manufacturers. Helping carriers leverage their UMTS, Wireless Internet and Location- Technology assets, and allowing application developers to 'location & navigation-enable' their wireless applications and location-based services, Webraska shortens time-to-market requirements, increases revenue and market opportunities, customer loyalty and brand recognition, for leading industry and wireless service providers around the world. The company is headquartered in Poissy, France and has offices in London, Brussels, Madrid, Amsterdam, Milan, Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore, Melbourne and Montreal. For more information visit: www.webraska.com About Genimap Genimap was formed recently following the acquisition by WSOY, one of SanomaWSOY's five sectors, of Karttakeskus Oy in September last year and its merger with WSOY's map company, Geodata Oy. Genimap is the Finnish market leader in customised location information solutions, location-based Internet and mobile applications, and digital and printed map publishing. Genimap has set itself the strategic goal of becoming a leading player internationally in mobile location based solutions. The company had pro forma net sales in 1999 of some FIM 70 million. For further information about Genimap, please visit www.genimap.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se