LG U+'s 'U Navi' Provides 'CCTV Route Comparison' Function
KT's 'Olleh iNavi' Integrates Personalization Features with Navigation

LG U+ and KT announced on the 17th that they are partnering with Tinkware, the leading vehicle navigation service provider, to relaunch under the names 'U Navi' and 'Olleh iNavi'.

The newly launched navigation service will integrate and jointly utilize real-time traffic information based on both companies' user bases and statistical data accumulated by iNavi through over 10 years of navigation business operations. Users of both companies' smartphone navigation services are expected to reduce discrepancies between estimated arrival time and actual arrival time based on Korea's best route data through this service, and to experience new developments in route quality.

Furthermore, both companies' navigation services are expected to provide optimized route guidance through Tinkware's accumulated know-how and coverage, destination information (POI), predictive traffic information by day of week and time period, and other domestic-leading level data and foundational technologies related to navigation.

Meanwhile, while both companies provide identical route guidance as the basic element of navigation, each company plans to differentiate by providing company-specific unique functions and UI (user interface).



<Captured screen showing the 'Real View with Actual Photos' feature provided in 'Olleh iNavi'>

LG U+'s 'U Navi' provides the 'CCTV Route Comparison' function. The 'CCTV Route Comparison' function allows users to directly verify traffic conditions using CCTV and select routes. It is Korea's first service enabling users to visually view road CCTVs and select alternate routes to avoid congested roads. It differentiates itself from other navigation services in that when there is a CCTV on the route, it provides bypass routes visually.

KT's 'Olleh iNavi' also provides its own specialized features, offering 'Route Settings' service, which combines personalization features with navigation, as a beta version for the first time in Korea. While previously in route guidance services drivers could only select one of the 'recommended routes' provided by the app, 'Olleh iNavi's 'Route Settings' offers a 'My Route' feature allowing drivers to directly select preferred roads on the map and generate routes.

Choi Chang-guk, head of infrastructure services at LG U+, stated: "This is the first service combining smartphone navigation operational experience from two telecommunications companies with Tinkware, a navigation specialist. Through this update, we expect route quality in smartphone navigation to advance significantly, and it will evolve as a representative collaboration model between telecom operators and domestic IT-based manufacturers."

Meanwhile, 'U Navi' can be downloaded and used through the U+ Store and Google Play, and the iPhone version is scheduled to launch in the first half of this year.