Fremont, CA – Spime Inc., a Silicon Valley California based provider of white labeled LBS solutions to the mobile world announced today the availability of its MapMan Onboard–Hybrid Map and Navigation Engine.  MapMan is a state of the art LBS mapping and navigation engine that powers customized map and LBS related applications to run on mobile handsets, netbooks, PNDs and MIDs. The MapMan SDK includes powerful APIs that make it easy for developers to develop any map and LBS related application. Leveraging the MapMan SDK, LBS applications can dynamically connect to the Web to access additional content and services at any time.

The MapMan Onboard-Hybrid Map and Navigation Engine unique architecture allows consumers to access map data, point of interest (POI), routing, navigation and “where am I” functionality even when not connected to the Internet. Its hybrid architecture also supports Internet connectivity, enabling users to access dynamic content and to purchase updated maps and new services over the Web. MapMan has the added benefit of reducing mobile data charges for consumers over alternative offboard solutions because users do not need to be always connected. 

“For example, today’s map related applications from major technology brands require constant Internet connectivity to use map functionality and cannot support turn-by-turn navigation.  With MapMan, users can view maps, track location in real time, search POIs, get routes and even use voice guided turn-by-turn navigation functionality without being connected. When the Internet is available, MapMan dynamically connects providing the user with complete Web functionality.  And, consumers that pay for mobile data services based on usage save money when using LBS applications because they only pay data charges when they need to be connected ”  says Gary Mendel, Spime’s VP of WW Marketing and Sales.

Wireless devices now have the processing power and storage to implement complex LBS applications on the device allowing operators, OEMs and Enterprises to reduce server and infrastructure costs by moving the work from the server to the device. Operators offering unlimited data plans see a better ROI because LBS related network traffic is reduced. 

With MapMan, service providers can offer differentiated applications and LBS solutions from competing Internet connected mapping services. Because MapMan has the ability to automatically stitch together downloaded maps, such as two adjacent cities or states, service providers can deploy a variety of monetization models. And, MapMan has the APIs to integrate with any applications store to provide additional content, advertising and location services when connected to the Web.  MapMan provides geographic coverage and localization flexibility as it can import maps from popular formats and its architecture supports both Latin and ideographic based languages.

MapMan use cases are:
•   Map Viewer with text only routing, upgradable to full TBT voice navigation
•   Turn-by-turn navigation – voice, text, dynamic route display on maps
•   Tracking applications – social networks, people, assets, fleets
•   Dynamic POI search integrated with mapping, guidance and routing
•   Dynamic integration of Web based data sets with map related applications for enterprise and consumers

MapMan currently supports Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows Mobile.  Support for Android, Symbian, iPhone and Java will be available in the near future.