Cricket Navigator - New Navigation Solution

Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, today announced the availability of Cricket Navigator, a new premium voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation solution that will be exclusive to Cricket customers. In addition to the core navigation features, Cricket Navigator features specific functions that put time and money-saving local information at a user’s fingertips.

Examples of the premium features include:

* Gas Savings – Cricket Navigator allows users to search for all nearby gas stations, and lists the results by both price and distance to current location. The user can then select the station of their choice, and receive directions to the location.

* Traffic – For users who need to get to their location quickly, Cricket Navigator identifies potential traffic holdups on a user’s route and then alerts the driver with information about the issue ahead. Cricket Navigator will then provide the driver with the option of a detour to assure a traffic snarl-free ride that will get them to their destination on time

* Local Entertainment– When a user is on the road in a new city, Cricket Navigator can help travelers explore the nightlife and local entertainment. Users can search by a specific event venue, look for nearby bars and restaurants, or view show times and read reviews of movies playing at local theaters.

* Hyper-Local Search – Cricket Navigator is pre-loaded with search features that let users avoid the hassles of the yellow pages and find any specific business or location. Users can search for anything from the nearest Cricket retail store, to the specific address of a friend or family member.

“Cricket users have been buzzing for a premium turn-by-turn navigation solution, and we believe Cricket Navigator will be just what they’ve been looking for,” said Jeff Toig, vice president/general manager of voice/data services for Cricket. “We bring innovative features to our customers while making sure we continue to provide the best value in wireless.”

Cricket Navigator will be powered by TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology.

“Cricket Navigator is a feature-rich navigation product that Cricket customers will quickly discover to be reliable and trustworthy, whether they’re looking for something down the block or in a place they’ve never been,” said Doug Antone, senior vice president of TCS' Navigation and Telematics Group. “Today, mobile consumers expect apps and mobile services to deliver a compelling and intuitive experience. Cricket Navigator, powered by TCS, serves up a fresh navigation experience that can meet such consumer expectations and more.”

Cricket Navigator can be downloaded from Cricket’s Games and Apps catalog, and is currently available on the Samsung MyShot II device. Over the coming weeks, the application will be rolled out to more phones, and will be available on the majority Cricket devices by the end of this summer.

Cricket Navigator will be offered in Cricket’s new nationwide $50 and $60 rate plans, and available as a bolt-on to the new nationwide $30 and $40 rate plans.

[via press release]