Overview
NAVTEQ's underlying map database is based on first-hand observation of geographic features rather than relying on official government maps. It provides data used in a wide range of applications, including automotive navigation systems for many car makers, accounting for around 85% of market share. Most clients use Navteq to provide traffic reports in major metropolitan areas throughout North America.
NAVTEQ partners with third-party agencies and companies to provide its services for portable GPS devices made by Garmin, Lowrance, NDrive and web-based applications such as Yahoo! Maps, Bing Maps, Nokia Maps, and MapQuest. Microsoft's aviation game Flight Simulator X uses NAVTEQ data to achieve a high level of visual realism for automatic terrain generation. XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio use NAVTEQ data to show traffic information on navigation systems. NAVTEQ data has also been used for GPS- and GSM-based sex offender tracking systems in North Carolina and Georgia. NAVTEQ also provides graphics systems, information services, and personnel for TV and radio broadcasting via NAVTEQ Media Services.
Its main competitors are Google and the Dutch company Tele Atlas.
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