DASH NAVIGATION, DIAL DIRECTIONS, TELLME, DECARTA SPUR VOICE SERVICES INNOVATION

Dash Navigation (Dash) was created as a "next generation" GPS device that would not only provide users with maps and directions, but also would capture and communicate traffic information. The Dash Driver Network sends and receives anonymous traffic data that helps drivers find the best options given real-time information. The current generation Dash Express device doesn't have voice recognition or voice input capability, but it does have data input capability that Dial Directions and Tellme are using to provide enhanced services. Dial Directions launched a voice service last year that provides directions from point A to point B in the US to users who call +1 DIRECTIONS (+1 [347] 328-4667). The new service allows callers to speak their destination and have the results automatically sent to their Dash Express device. The Dash Express device can then route the user from his or her current location to the destination device without the user having to manually input the information.

“Our “remote control” phone service bridges the gap between voice, mobile, and location-based technologies,” claimed Dial Directions CEO Adeeb Shanaa. Robert Currie, president and COO of Dash Navigation, said the announcement of the Dial Directions capability "marks an important milestone for the extension of the Dash connected navigation platform into voice services. Dash is committed to bringing creative and compelling features to the Dash community by working with companies, like Dial Directions, that are pioneering new types of GPS services while remaining committed to high standards of performance, quality, and accuracy.”

According to Amit Desai, Dial Directions' co-founder and chief product officer, Garmin and TomTom have a greater market share than Dash but not all of their Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) will allow input from voice providers such as Dial Directions. Whereas Dial Directions allows users to easily send location information to Dash devices, Tellme users can search for businesses and have the business information, including location, easily sent to users' Dash devices.

Dash is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Skymoon Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Artis Capital, and ZenShin Capital Partners.

Geospatial software platform provider deCarta plans to integrate Dial Directions’ voice recognition technology in the next generation of Connected Navigation Services. “With a wide variety of location-enabled services potentially available to the consumer through connected navigation, streamlining the user-interface for ease-of-use is exceptionally important,” said Louis Bouchard, director of marketing at deCarta. “Having Dial Directions join deCarta’s value-chain consortium of connected navigation service and technology providers is a key component to increase service usage and user-satisfaction.” -Stuart Whitaker, Smarajit Dasgupta