Tele Atlas Advertising for Map Reports
Jul
16
2008
I came across this advertisement today, and found it interesting. Tele Atlas is advertising for people to submit map update reports. The advertisement pictured below reads like this:
Update GPS Map Data
Send us your map feedback and help create better maps.
www.teleatlas.com
I’m not sure why, but I’m surprised that Tele Atlas would put so much value on getting map feedback from users that they would pay advertising to promote the service. I’m not saying it is a bad idea– in fact it is quite clever, but it was surprising.
Why surprised!? TeleAtlas pays a lot to their work force to drive around and figure out new roads. So getting it for free from users would be worth some advertising.
I actually think that the navigation device of the future will store the routes (and thus roads) you have driven and upload it to the server of the “mapping” company. In this way the “mapping” company (e.g. TeleAtlas or NavTeq) would automatically learn of new roads. As long as their market share is big enough and enough people participate. This would actually be a “win win” situation because if you agree to uploade your routes the mapping company could offer you free updates of their maps in return. Who would not go for such a deal!?
So why be surprised. This is basically the start of this concept but in a non automated and non electronic way.
As I said– I wasn’t surprised in a “why are they doing this?” kind of way– just didn’t expect it.
I am from china, employed by a map supplier–lingtu Co. my english level is not higher, but i really want to write down these words:
it is a good idea that the map supplier provide this kind of services.
but i think they need to set up a unit (such as service center) to let it be easier. based on that, there are more things can be done if the map supplier want to do those, to promotion the value of their map.
In my sales channel, I had test it, and the test result told me it is a good way.