Well if you are like me who find roads more confusing that the jigsaw puzzles and who would get lost driving around bombay even with a navigator fitted on his car dashboard then Satnav has just launched the service you were looking for.
Get Directions on call
Satnav a provider of GPS technology which is back by Sequioa Capital has launched the first voice based Navigation Directions service LCU (Lost? Need Directions? Call Us!) which is also the latest variant of its popular GPS navigation product, SatGuide. This service would be available to all the 365mn cellphone users across the country
Patent Pending Solution
SatNav has also filed a patent for LCU which is an integrated solution to the yellow pages and directory services. This service is currently available in Andhra Pradesh from 6:30am – 11:30pm throughout the week. Satnav plans to launch the service countrywide by March 2009.
Multilingual capability
Satnav is making sure that the regional aspects are kept in mind and hence the agents who provide directions are multilingual and can assist the customers in English, Hindi and Telugu. As they move to the other states liguistic capabilities would be kept in mind.
Will this work?
Currently Satguide has detailed maps of 200+ cities and more than 15 lakh destinations (Points of Interest or POIs) for customers to choose from. In addition over 10 lakh kms of roads have been digitized and 77,000 towns and villages can be reached through the service. The map is constantly being enhanced and plans are to grow to 30 lakh destinations, 500 cities and ultimately the 6 lakh villages across the country.
Given this background the service would be a rich add on if available on the phone. Lets keep in mind one thing. Not all users know how to sms or figure out a map on mobile but all users can take direction instructions on the phone. This service will also be useful as a directory to know which hospitals, schools and points of critical importance are nearby to ones location. All in all I believe this service would do really well. The only question remains as to how Satnav will monetize this service? I believe – Pre-call ads and database of mobile numbers would be two ways in which they can monetize this service. To me their business model would be very similar to a Justdial.
What is the phone number for this facility?
Useful post and the facility looks very interesting!
This makes me say WOW.
Where is “bombay” by the way???
Seems like like a desperate attempt of survival. If you get lost even with GPS device that themselves sell, then better toss it in the Arabian sea or Bay of Bengal, which ever is closer to you.
If they want to compete with Justdial, well….. good luck to them.