NAVIGON jumps into connected PND market

At the IFA trade show today German PND maker NAVIGON introduced its real-time, connected services offered through a new range of Personal navigation Devices (PNDs).

NAVIGON Live Services comprises traffic, weather, Google Local Search, speed camera and parking space availability (in Germany). The connectivity is provided by an external “Live Module” (a GPRS modem with a SIM card) that sits between the charger and the navigation device.

Business model
The newly announced NAVIGON 6350 Live (€349) and NAVIGON 8450 Live (€499) have these real-time services as standard. The service is free of charge for three months and beyond this period the contract can be extended in selecting either a one-year contract for €79.95 or a two-year contract for €139.95. To jump start this program NAVIGON offers a 25 per cent discount for anyone who opts for a one or two year contract within the first 30 days of initial use, reducing the cost to just €59.95 and €104.95 respectively.

“We are offering our users a well thought out payment model that allows access to our Live Services that reach beyond respective country borders at no additional cost”, said Jörn Watzke, vice-president of Product Line Management at NAVIGON. “NAVIGON Live customers are guaranteed that there will be no additional costs added to the subscription fees outlined above, for units purchased either in Germany or abroad. Ultimately, our aim is to enhance our customers’ holiday experience, and not confront them with a nasty surprise in the form of a high mobile phone bill when they get home.”

The Live module can also be purchased separately for €99 to add connected services to the NAVIGON 6310 and NAVIGON 8410.