Navigon Expands Aggressive Traffic Push

By Amy Gilroy On Dec 3 2007 - 8:00am

Navigon is continuing its aggressive push into the U.S. market with the launch of lifetime real-time traffic service available for a one-time $99 fee with the purchase of one of its personal navigation devices (PNDs), the $249-suggested 2100.

The company already offers lifetime traffic service built into the price of the 5100 and 7100 PNDs at $399 and $499, respectively, after a $50 rebate.

Most PND suppliers, in contrast, offer free traffic service for only three months to one year, require an additional $100 to $150 for an add-on traffic adapter and charge about $60/year for continued service.

Navigon also said it will sell an optional Zagat Survey Ratings and Review Guide at $39.99 for the 2100. The traffic and Zagat options are enabled by entering a code into the PND to unlock the feature after purchase. No additional adapters are required.

Navigon's 5100 and 7100 already come with pre-activated Zagat information.

Free lifetime traffic service was included in Navigon's 2100 on Black Friday for $179 through RadioShack and Staples. The product offers text-to-speech pronunciation of street names.

Navigon PNDs are sold through retailers including Best Buy, RadioShack, Office Depot and Staples.

Navigon is a German-based GPS software provider that entered the U.S. PND market in 2007. It also supplies GPS software to other companies.