CHICAGO, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions (LBS), announces the semifinalists of the Americas edition of the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge. The Global LBS Challenge is a world-wide developer competition that invites developers to build and submit original, pre-commercialized mobile applications using dynamic positioning technology and NAVTEQ(R) maps.

Fourteen contestants have now been selected to move on to Final Judging in Americas and the winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on April 2, 2009 during CTIA Wireless 2009 in Las Vegas. The awards ceremony is open to all CTIA attendees and will also be broadcast live online at www.LBSChallenge.com. The semifinalists, by category, for NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge - The Americas include:

Content

    --  CellSoul, Inc: Azinfo by CellSoul is a mosque-locator and a
        location-based timings calculator for Muslim prayers.
    --  Loci Smart, LLC: Loci Smart provides localized and personalized content,
        ads, maps and directions to users based on profile preferences.
    --  Yojo Mobile, Inc: Yojo Mama finds parents what they need, when and where
        they need it most.

Enterprise category

    --  Duzine.com LLC: GR8USEDCAR's mission is to help consumers identify,
        locate and negotiate the purchase of a great used car.
    --  Lightpole: Trulia is a real estate search application that allows users
        to obtain real estate information whenever, however they need and
        wherever they are.
    --  T+1 Solutions: Taxi4me on your phone will get you the best and trusted
        taxi service for your desired trip, in your home town or when traveling.

Entertainment & Leisure

    --  Creativity Software: Rough Guides Mobile Travel Guide is a location
        aware city guide with User Generated content and social networking
        features.
    --  Cutlass: Hollywood-USA is a GPS tour guide to movie locations nearest
        you and includes RSS news feeds from The Hollywood Reporter and social
        networked Make-a-Scene.

Navigation

    --  Gowrabattini, Inc: Where is My Car helps you to never wander for a
        parked car - park the car, set the location, navigate back to the car.
    --  TrafficZag, Inc: Traffic Share facilitates location of traffic events
        such as accidents among commuters.
    --  Urban Mapping, Inc: URBANWARE Parking provides drivers with accurate and
        timely off-street parking information that can be incorporated into LBS
        applications.

Social Networking category

    --  Colombia Games: ToGetThere allows people that want to share a ride to
        create a trustful community that helps to save the earth by traveling
        together.
    --  Dial Plus Inc: DialPlus enhances the standard phone call experience by
        automatically and simultaneously providing dynamic, contextually
        relevant visual information about the called or calling party before,
        during and after the call is over.
    --  HS Latin America: Dimdix uses location social networking to track your
        friends and meet people around you.

"Now in its sixth year, the Global LBS Challenge continues to drive innovation in the LBS space and surface new, creative, pre-commercialized LBS applications and the talented developers behind them," comments Marc Naddell, vice president, partner & developer programs, NAVTEQ. "NAVTEQ has once again secured an impressive line-up of official judges, all of whom have vast experience in evaluating applications and solutions for go-to-market channels, and reflecting the diverse value chains where NAVTEQ's professional grade maps have created such powerful solutions."

Final Judging will take place on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in Las Vegas. The panel of judges includes:

    --  Claudia Knop, Associate Director, LBS/Mobile Apps, AT&T Mobility
    --  Mark Mosiniak, Director of Business Development, Best Buy
    --  Marios Zenios, Vice President, Connectivity and Infotainment, Chrysler
        LLC
    --  Tom Owen, Vice President, Wireless Business Development, deCarta
    --  Pankaj Kedia, Director, Global Ecosystems Programs, Mobile Internet
        Devices, Intel
    --  Lori Schwartz, SVP and Director, IPG Emerging Media Lab
    --  Stephen Jemente, Product Manager, Location Based Services, Metro PCS
    --  Marc Kleinmaier, Business Development Manager, LBS, Nokia
    --  ByongJoo Kwak, Manager, Content Planning Group, Samsung
    --  Bill Maggs, Director and Head of Developer & Partner Engagements,
        North America, Sony Ericsson
    --  Ramon Rodriguez Matte, Head of Mobile Business, Telefonica USA
    --  Kristi Crum, Director of Communication Products, Verizon
    --  Bob Upham, Director, Business Development, Yahoo! Geo Technologies

Notes to Editors

The prizes

NAVTEQ and sponsoring companies are offering prizes that contribute to a global prize pool of over $5.5 million dollars US in cash, tool and data licenses, and handsets, making the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge one of the industry's most rewarding developer competitions.

The sponsors

deCarta, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson globally sponsor the 2009 edition of the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge(R) with Telefonica as Platinum-level sponsor for The Americas and Autodesk Location Services a Gold-level sponsor for The Americas. Mobile Distillery is a Global Awards Sponsor. Media sponsors include Directions Media, GPS Business News and GPS World.

The Awards Ceremony

The Global LBS Challenge Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 3:00pm the Las Vegas Convention Center (North Hall Meeting Rooms N258/260). The event is open to all CTIA attendees will be followed by a cocktail reception. The awards ceremony will also be streamed live online at www.LBSChallenge.com

About the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge

First launched in 2003, the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge is focused on driving the development and visibility of innovative navigation solutions for wireless devices. From wireless business applications to sports, travel and security, integrating the accuracy and richness of NAVTEQ digital map data facilitates the timely evolution of the next wave of LBS. Over 30% of past semifinalists have gone on to receive venture capital funding or launch commercially-distributed applications. Complete development resources, information and technical support for creating LBS and Navigation solutions using NAVTEQ products and services is available at www.LBSChallenge.com.

About NAVTEQ Network for Developers

NAVTEQ Network for Developers (NN4D) is a dynamic online web portal and community that provides developers and business partners with the technical and business support needed to build, showcase and launch the most innovative location-enabled solutions. Connect with the people, tools and resources you need to grow your business by visiting www.NN4D.com .