AutoMapa celebrates a successful year!
2010-01-27
More than 450,000 users, more than a 40% increase in subscription sales and numerous awards from experts and customers. 2009, a difficult time for the entire economy, proved to be a highly successful year for AutoMapa! In 2009, the number of registered AutoMapa users increased by more than 100,000. More than 80% of new clients opted for AutoMapa when buying a navigation device from AutoMapa's long list of renowned hardware partners, including Aristo, AMTech, ASUS, Audiomedia, Becker, Blaupunkt, Blow, Clarion, Eten, FreeWay, HTC, Mio, NavRoad, Nokia, Pentagram, Samsung, Peying, Prolech, Syngio, Smart GPS and Trak. 2009 was a record-breaking year for AutoMapa as regards the number of received awards and distinctions. AutoMapa gained widespread recognition from both experts and users who presented it with the title of the Product of the Year 2009, yet another Consumer's Golden Laurel award and the Quality Champion title. For the seventh year running, AutoMapa was recognised as the most popular and the most frequently awarded navigation program in Poland. According to Janusz M. Kamiński, AutoMapa's PR and Marketing Director, in 2009, AutoMapa not only maintained its position of a market leader, but it also launched novel solutions on the Polish market. "2009 was a very special year for a number of reasons. AutoMapa received many prestigious awards from both IT experts and the consumers. On several occasions during the year, we set the bar higher both for ourselves and for the competition by implementing useful functions for drivers and users searching for specific locations." In 2009, AutoMapa introduced a number of break-through solutions as regards map data and program functions. Drivers have access to information on 500 most dangerous road sections in Poland, compiled in joint effort with the Polish Police, as well as data on more than 15,000 railway crossings, contributed by the Polish Railway Lines PKP PLK S.A. As of April, lorry drivers can map their routes by relying on data on traffic restrictions applicable to different types of vehicles. All holders of a valid AutoMapa license have access to AutoMapa Traffic, a revolutionary system that enables commuters to outsmart traffic jams. AutoMapa features current traffic information as well as forecasts developed based on regular reports from all Polish roads. In late 2009, AutoMapa launched the fourth map update with data valid for December 2009. In the last days of the year, AutoMapa was awarded the Product of the Year title by the PC World magazine. Calendar of events 2009 February - AutoMapa received the HIT IT distinction from four magazines: CD Action, Click!, NEXT and PC Format
March - AutoMapa received the Virtual Telephone award, the Polish IT industry's Oscar award, from the Mobile Internet magazine
- the Points of Interest (POIs) database in the map of Poland topped 400,000 entries
- the database of exact point addresses in Poland was expanded to cover more than 70% of the Polish population
- the first phase of the AutoMapa Traffic system containing historical data on traffic intensity was implemented. A special application supporting online data collection from more than ten sources was launched - including anonymous data collection from AutoMapa users
- AutoMapa and Krzysztof Hołowczyc's Safe Driver Foundation joined forces in the project entitled "500 most dangerous road sections in Poland" which provides AutoMapa users with access to data on the most dangerous traffic spots in Poland. The data, developed in close collaboration with the Polish Police, maximises driving comfort and safety
April - AutoMapa 5.5 was released as the only navigation system in Poland to feature data on traffic restrictions for lorries, including tonnage and overpass height, on Polish roads. It contains more than 23,000 traffic signs on tonnage limits, more than 1,200 signs describing overpass height and more than 2,200 overpasses measured with a laser rangefinder for the needs of non-standard vehicles. AutoMapa also supplies information on the allowable axle load on all national and regional roads in line with the regulation of the Minister of Transport
May - AutoMapa ranked first in the great navigation test of the PC World magazine. AutoMapa emerged as the unquestioned leader owing to its route mapping algorithms and its extensive address data base covering all of Poland. The jurors also emphasised AutoMapa's most important feature, namely its outstanding map precision. "AutoMapa won because we were looking for precision," wrote the PC World magazine.
- Navigation devices equipped with AutoMapa occupied the top 10 ranks in the NEXT magazine's ranking of navigation hardware
June - AutoMapa and PKP Polish Railways warned drivers of railway crossings as part of the "Safe Crossing - Stop and Live!" campaign
- AutoMapa became the navigation partner of Tall Ships' Races 2009 in Gdynia, a regatta of the world's largest sailing ships
- AutoMapa 5.5.2 was released with a database of 25,000 railway crossings and a list of 500 most dangerous road sections in Poland
- The number of entries in the database of exact point addresses in Poland exceeded 2.4 million
July - AutoMapa and Miplo.pl launched the "Summer Concerts with AutoMapa" campaign. Special files in the "Concerts with AutoMapa!" category guided thousands of music fans to concerts of top Polish and foreign performers
August - Targeo.pl (a special version of AutoMapa for browsing maps online) launched the first Polish website with the latest traffic information covering all of Poland
- AutoMapa received yet another Consumer's Golden Laurel title. According to the consumers participating in the survey, AutoMapa is the most recognisable brand on the market of navigation systems owing to its high quality, user-friendly design and innovative solutions
September - AutoMapa became a partner of the Cultural Traffic program in Radio RMF Classic
October - AutoMapa released speed limit data based on thousands of speed limit signs, including more than 20,000 signs on international, national and regional roads, and nearly 16,000 signs marking the beginning and the end of built-up areas where different speed limits apply
- AutoMapa became compatible with Google Earth! Compatibility with Google Earth was a milestone on the road to connecting AutoMapa with popular sources of spatial data as well as websites with user-generated content, such as YouTube and Panoramio. This functionality also enables the users to plan their trip in the Targeo.pl application and move the planned route to AutoMapa
- AutoMapa introduced new beta testing rules. Every holder of a valid AutoMapa license became eligible to join the Beta testers community and share vital information with other users
November - AutoMapa introduced new, lower prices. As of mid November, AutoMapa became available at 25% off the regular price.
- AutoMapa and the Miplo.pl website launched the AM REC program - a revolutionary tool for creating customised navigation and POI messages in GPS navigation
December - AutoMapa 6, the most eagerly anticipated program in the autumn of 2009, was launched. The new AutoMapa contains a fully functional AutoMapa Traffic system enabling users to map their routes based on updated traffic reports. AutoMapa 6, the first and the only navigation system in Poland which is compatible with both PND and Smartphone devices:
- forecasts traffic jams on devices with Internet access, subject to the time of the day and the day of the week
- processes the most recent data on traffic jams caused by accidents or road works
- informs the users of traffic restrictions, e.g. temporary closure of roads to heavy vehicle traffic - the number of entries in the POI database exceeded 0.5 million
- AutoMapa was awarded the title of the Product of the Year 2009 by the PC World magazine!
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