Neko
Supreme Overlord
Jul 8, 2004, 6:07 PM
Post #1 of 1
(7761 views)
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So you think you're a road warrior? Know the best way to navigate Chicago's unruly highways at any time of day? Can your cheat sheet of "secret" alternate routes get you out of any jam? Face it – even the best of the best still encounter nightmares on Chicago's infamous roadways. But thanks to a breakthrough, street-savvy wireless product called Traffic MapTM, offered by U.S. Cellular in the Chicagoland area, local road warriors won't have to worry about plotting a battle plan before they head out the door – they'll only have to consult their wireless phones.
With Traffic Map, customers can zoom in and out of detailed maps on their wireless phones, which feature color-coded freeway overlays to indicate traffic congestion. The service, which "auto refreshes" every five minutes, displays near real-time traffic speeds and travel times compiled from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). the state's primary authority on traffic conditions. For example, with a few clicks on the phone keypad, a customer can quickly display the approximate driving minutes from O'Hare to the Loop on the Kennedy Expressway. In addition, a moving ticker message at the bottom of the screen alerts the user about traffic accident locations.
"Chicagoans are no strangers to traffic tie-ups. That's why U.S. Cellular was excited to partner with Blue Cove Interactive and eMbience Inc. to develop Traffic Map, which will help our customers avoid the headaches that come with navigating Chicagoland highways," said Alan D. Ferber, vice president of marketing, U.S. Cellular. "Customers who use Traffic Map will definitely have an edge, no matter what time they hit the road."
A first-of-its-kind product, Traffic Map is available to U.S. Cellular customers who subscribe to easyedgeSM , the company's next generation wireless data service. The product was developed for U .S. Cellular by eMbience Inc. (publisher) and Blue Cove Interactive, in conjunction with GeoMicro. U.S. Cellular is the first wireless carrier to offer this application.
"We believe Traffic Map will really appeal to all customers – even those who have never accessed wireless data before – because it's a another great demonstration of how wireless products can literally save them time," said Eli Strich, chief operating officer of Blue Cove Interactive. "Customers will no longer have to wait for traffic reports on the television or radio, or take a guess on travel times for routes that aren't routinely broadcasted because Traffic Map puts them in control of when and how they receive the reports that help them the most."
To maximize safety and convenience while using Traffic Map, U.S. Cellular encourages customers to utilize the service before they get behind the wheel or have a passenger access the needed information.
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