Brooklyn based GPS marketing solutions company AdNav is preparing a navigation handset with hopes of eventually providing a free devices. The company's initial proposed model charges travelers a small fee for a device when renting a car or registering for a hotel. Through the functionality of AdNav's sleek handset, participating tourists are enabled to blend into natural surroundings. Say goodbye to common "just visiting" signifiers such as the fanny pack, camera, or oversized maps.
The logical response to AdNav's claim is "How can a small company make such bold promises prior to even launching their initial product? Aren't they setting themselves up for failure?" AdNav's magical answer is the elusive Web 2.0 business savior, commonly referred to as advertising. The company eventually hopes to offer free GPS devices that come loaded with ads for various businesses.
AdNav is already partnered with search engine Ask.com, which will provide Internet access and local business listings for the bewildered tourist. Other features include geo-coded city guides complete with historical information, popular attractions, local statistics, etc.
Other recent news in the GPS space occurred through Nokia's early October purchase of Chicago-based mapping company, Navteq, for a reported $8.1 billion.
