| NAVTEQ Corporation engages in creating, updating, supporting, licensing, and distributing digital map database in North America and Europe. It provides digital map information, and related software and services for use in a range of navigation, mapping, and geographic-related applications, including products and services that provide maps, driving directions, turn-by-turn route guidance, fleet management and tracking, and geographic information systems. The company provides these products and services to end users by its customers on various platforms, including self-contained hardware and software systems installed in vehicles; personal computing devices, such as personal digital assistants and cell phones; server-based systems, including Internet and wireless services; and paper media. The company’s database is a digital representation of road transportation networks in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other regions. It had data for 44 countries in 4 continents covering approximately 10.2 million miles of roadway, as of December 31, 2004. The company’s database includes road; route; and related travel information, including attributes collected by road segment. NAVTEQ markets its database to automobile manufacturers and dealers, automotive electronics manufacturers, software developers, Internet portals, parcel and overnight delivery services companies, and governmental and quasi-governmental entities. The company was founded in 1985 under the name of Karlin & Collins, Inc. and changed its name to Navigation Technologies Corporation in 1987. Further, its name was changed to NAVTEQ Corporation in February 2004. NAVTEQ is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. |
