ViaMichelin launches the ViaMichelin Navigation X-980T Europe ...

Press release
October 2006
ViaMichelin launches the ViaMichelin Navigation X-980T
Europe with new interactivity and enhanced content
New features
Improved with great new interactive features, the ViaMichelin Navigation X-980T Europe is
ViaMichelin’s next generation PND. Better than ever before, this latest edition to the ViaMichelin
PND range features:
• New Bluetooth® connectivity with built-in hands-free speaker
• Free real-time traffic information
• Full UK postcode search
• Regularly updated fixed speed camera locations*
• Full European maps covering 20 countries down to street numbers
• Exclusive Michelin Guides content covering all of Europe – detailed hotel, restaurant and
tourist sights recommendations
• Upgraded list of new Points of Interest (POIs) – petrol stations, car parks, sports centres,
food shops, ATMs, theatres…
• New 4.3 inch LCD widescreen – one of the widest in the market
Interactivity
Booking a table has never been so easy! Now you can call your restaurant, theatre or cinema onroute
directly from your car using the X-980T’s new hands-free Bluetooth® connection to your
mobile. Simply choose your destination and press the call button to dial up and book ahead!
Navigating has also been made easier by the new text-to-speech function which clearly
announces street names, road signs and traffic-related messages to simplify your travelling
experience. The X-980T also features a brand new split-screen option and a smart keyboard
which intuitively registers your destination after typing in the first few letters, making it truly
the smartest PND on the market!
Exclusive Michelin content and POIs
The ViaMichelin Navigation X-980T Europe includes exclusive Michelin content. With over 50,000
establishments from The Michelin ® Guide and 19,000 tourist and cultural sites from the
prestigious Michelin Green Guide, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Local cafes, luxury hotels and
restaurants are all quick to locate with the easy-to-use interactive touch screen. If you have a
craving for your favourite cuisine, the Michelin hotel and restaurant recommendations provide
information on the menu as well as available facilities and services (from whether there is a car
park or disabled access, to payment modes and contact details).
Enhanced safety options
The X-980T takes the stress out of both daily and holiday trips allowing you to travel safely. The
new speed camera function identifies fixed camera locations whilst the free traffic information
option offers real-time traffic updates to avoid traffic jams and road closures when you’re on
the road. You can choose to have traffic icons and messages displayed on your route map and
the X-980T will even recalculate your route automatically if it detects traffic ahead. Not only
will you be able to receive traffic updates throughout Europe, but it is completely free with no
hidden costs such as GPRS mobile fees.

Practical information at your touch
The X-980T offers an exclusive selection of POIs covering a wide variety of categories such as
sports, shopping and leisure activities. Enjoy your hobbies to the full, using the X-980T to locate
swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, cinemas and video stores. For the less active, bars
and cafes, hairdressers and beauty salons can all be found at the touch of a button.
New routes and navigation options
Versatile and easy to use, the X-980T can help you plan your journey, locate Points of Interest
(POIs) and services whether you are cycling, driving or simply taking a stroll into town. This
portable PND is ideal for every situation and travel mode and now provides different routes
according to your specific travel needs – you can even specify that you want to avoid toll roads.
You can find the following routes:
• Shortest - shortest distance
• Quickest - shortest travelling time
• Recommended by ViaMichelin- favours comfort, safety and simplicity
• Pedestrian or Bicycle
The ViaMichelin Navigation X-980T will be available in all key electronics stores from the end of
October. The recommended retail price is £449 for the full European version.
For more information, see: www.ViaMichelin.com/GPSnavigation
*Fixed speed camera locations for 13 European countries can be downloaded from the ViaMichelin website
ViaMichelin
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Michelin Group, ViaMichelin designs, develops and markets digital travel
assistance products and services for road users throughout Europe. Drawing on over a century of Michelin
experience in travel assistance, this activity, launched in 2001, is intended for both the general public and
companies. It offers a wide range of services and products (maps, route plans/driving directions, hotel and
restaurant recommendations, online hotel booking, tourist information, weather and traffic reports…),
available on a variety of media: the Internet (www.ViaMichelin.co.uk), CD-ROMs for PCs, CD-ROMs for incar
navigation systems, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) software and PNDs (Personal
Navigation Devices).
For further information, please contact:
Lucie Arnaud/Sally Plant at Bite Communications
Tel: 020 8741 1123 Email: ViaMichelin@bitepr.com