INRIX Launches Mobile Development Kit to Accelerate Integration of Traffic-Powered Mobile Apps into the Car
NOVI, Mich., June 8 — Telematics Detroit — INRIX, the leading provider of traffic services, introduced a mobile developer kit (MDK) today that helps speed to market breakthrough traffic-enabled navigation and location-based applications that integrate smartphone functionality with in-car display and/or voice controls. The company also announced the upcoming release of a new iPad version of INRIX Traffic!, its popular app for commuters.
Designed for automotive OEMs, tier one suppliers and mobile application developers, the MDK provides access to hundreds of sample applications and code libraries as well as best practices for seamlessly integrating INRIX traffic information into in-car and mobile navigation applications. For example, the MDK provides developers with documentation and best practices for the creation of apps that take the guesswork out of the daily commute with the fastest route, travel journey times and ETAs.
The MDK supports a variety of use cases including display of traffic on a map, incident data integration, travel times, traffic cameras as well as INRIX’s suite of Connected Services including traffic-influenced routing, weather and fuel prices. Developers will gain access to the technical resources and INRIX traffic data through INRIX’s Dev Zone and Mobile Gateway.
"Our mobile and automotive customers and partners asked us for a simpler way to create custom mobile applications leveraging INRIX traffic information," said INRIX Vice President of Product Management Ken Kranseler. "With our MDK, it’s now easy to create unique HMIs, plus leverage code from our highly popular commuter apps for creating breakthrough navigation and location-based apps."
Using the MDK, INRIX completed development of an iPad optimized version of its popular INRIX Traffic! and INRIX Traffic! Pro app in less than 2 weeks. Coming later this month to the iPad App Store, INRIX Traffic! is a free app that provides real-time traffic, traffic forecast, speed trap, accident and incident information for all major cities and roads across the U.S. and Canada. Winner of a 2010 MacWorld Best of Show Award, INRIX Traffic! Pro is available as an in-app upgrade to the free app that provides motorists with the added benefit of always knowing the fastest route, best time to leave, travel time and ETA for any destination.
Leading efforts to extend the benefits of INRIX Traffic! to more mobile platforms and expand adoption of the company’s traffic services by automotive and mobile navigation software providers, mobile operators and handset manufacturers, INRIX also announced the hiring of former Senior Vice President of AOL Mobile Bill Schwebel as the company’s new Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Planning.
"Our mobile apps and tools have helped companies like Ford and providers of 8 of the top 10 most popular GPS smartphone navigation apps get to market fast with new traffic-powered navigation services," said INRIX President and CEO Bryan Mistele. "Bill’s experience helps us transform our unique consumer insights into new features that extend beyond INRIX Traffic! to apps that empower our partners and customers to deliver consumer experiences that make navigation more useful every day."
Schwebel brings to INRIX more than 20 years of leading-edge telecommunications, media, internet and software experience. He most recently served as president of T9 predictive text input software maker Tegic Communications, Inc. which he successfully sold to Nuance Communications in 2007. Prior to his role at Tegic, Schwebel was Senior Vice President and General Manager of AOL Mobile where he developed, launched, and grew the first large-scale mobile internet offering that at its peak was used by more than 10 million subscribers and accounted for 1 of every 5 mobile messages sent or received in North America.
About INRIX
INRIXr is a leading provider of highly accurate traffic services, with more than 100 customers and industry partners including the Ford Motor Company, TomTom, MapQuest, Microsoft, NAVIGON AG, TeleNav, I-95 Corridor Coalition, Tele Atlas, deCarta, TCS, Telmap, ANWB and ADAC. INRIX’s strategic partnership with Clear Channel Radio and Total Traffic Network extends the delivery of the highest quality data and broadest coverage available for personal navigation, mapping, telematics and other location-based service applications in the car, online and on mobile devices.
INRIX Traffic Services leverage sophisticated statistical analysis techniques, originally developed by Microsoft Research, to aggregate and enhance traffic-related information from hundreds of public and private sources, including traditional road sensors and the company’s unique network of more than 2 million GPS-enabled vehicles and mobile devices including 8 of the top 10 iPhone navigation apps. INRIX delivers real-time and historical traffic information today for 20 countries across North America and Europe. To experience the traffic technology revolution behind the next generation of navigation and location-based service applications, visit www.INRIX.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/INRIX.