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SpatialNews Press Release Daily Geo News Wireless News Business News Feature Columns GO2 SYSTEMS AND ESRI FIRST IN U.S. TO DELIVER MAPS OVER INTERNET-ENABLED MOBILE PHONESWIRELESS 2000, BOOTH 5260, NEW ORLEANS, Feb 28, 2000 - Go2 Systems Inc., the originator of Go2™, the first global addressing and locator system designed for the Internet and portable devices, today announced collaboration with ESRI, the first company to leverage geographic information system (GIS) software on the World Wide Web. Together the companies will deliver the first digital maps available over graphically enabled Web phones in the U.S. and will provide advance demonstrations of this technology at WIRELESS 2000. Go2's Web sites already allow users to access proximity-ranked listings of more than 11 million real-world stores and destinations from Web-enabled mobile phones. Go2 Web sites provide specific, real-time information such as turn-by-turn directions, store hours and details on where to park, all based on the user's precise location or intended destination-offering a simple, intuitive means for users to find what they are looking for, close by. Digital maps take this functionality to the next level and are expected to be widely available to consumers by the end of first quarter 2000. "Go2 and ESRI have joined forces to provide mapping technology specifically designed for the wireless Internet infrastructure," said Lee Hancock, president of Go2 Systems Inc. "We are delivering digital maps to mobile phones well in advance of most consumer and industry expectations - driving significant advancements in mobile phone hardware and functionality." Based on the company's patented World Geographic Reference System (WGRS™) technology, Go2 is designed specifically for devices with limited keypads, storage, bandwidth and display space. Go2 is using ESRI's ArcIMS software, which integrates local data with Internet data in a simple browser interface, to display bit-map graphics over graphic-enabled wireless phone, such as the Samsung SCH-3500. ArcIMS takes geographic information, such as streets and highways, and delivers it to the Internet as a map. "Go2's technology takes geographic information on the Internet to a level that's easy to use and practical for people on the move," said Kees Van Loo, telecommunications industry solution manager for ESRI. "It's exciting to see vision become reality with sophisticated geographic data becoming integrated with wireless phones." Go2's technology is also compatible with the wireless applications protocol (WAP), an open, global specification enabling access to information and services using wireless devices. Go2's 500 Web sites represent a significant portion of the U.S. Web sites currently available via wireless Internet access. The company plans to develop as many as 2,000 additional WAP-ready sites. Go2's WAP-ready sites are compatible with the Wireless Mark-Up Language (WML) and the Handheld Device Mark-Up Language (HDML), making the sites easy to view on portable devices. Each site is capable of knowing what type of browser is being used for access and automatically delivers data suited for PCs or portable devices. Go2 sites became available by traditional Internet access in November 1999, and are easily accessible through the hundreds of topic specific Go2 Web sites such as Go2coffee.com, Go2hotels.com, Go2burgers.com or Go2banks.com. About ESRI For more than 30 years, ESRI has been the world's leading provider of geographic information system (GIS) software, according to industry analyst International Data Corporation (IDC). In 1999, ESRI accounted for more than 24 percent of the GIS software market's worldwide revenues. Intergraph, the second-place vendor, had just over 16 percent. ESRI has almost 2,500 employees worldwide, of which more than 1,500 are in the United States at the Redlands, California, headquarters and 9 regional offices. ESRI has a network of 15 international offices and distributors in more than 189 countries to serve our global user base. About Go2 Systems Inc. Go2 Systems Inc., a privately held company based in Irvine, Calif., is the originator of Go2™, the first global addressing and locator system designed for the Internet and portable devices. Go2's patented addressing system is designed to facilitate real-world navigation and commerce by allowing users to conveniently find the products and services they need, from wherever they are. Established in 1995, Go2 serves as the cornerstone of a multi-platform interface to help people find real-world business establishments in their immediate area using the Internet and Web-enabled portable devices. For more information, visit http://www.go2online.com or any of the hundreds of topic-specific Go2 Web sites in the http://www.Go2_____.com format. For further information, please contact: Jackie Zerbst Townsend & O'Leary Public Relations Tel: 949-833-8006 Email: jzerbst@topr.com |
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