Today.Az » Society » Unique navigation system available in Azerbaijan
04 October 2013 [11:30] - Today.Az
By AzerNews
Modern and rapidly developing Azerbaijan changes every day, and you need a good navigator not to get lost on the roads. Your good guide in this could be navigation companies operating in the country.
One of them is Caspian NavTel, the first, largest and most developed company providing navigation services in Azerbaijan. The company is engaged in the creation of electronic maps, relevant software, providing, controlling and servicing of pertinent equipment.
It functions mostly in two directions: developing of navigation and fleet management systems.
Over the course of its six-year activity Caspian NavTel has made satellite navigation accessible to everyone in Azerbaijan.
The company has also created a map of neighboring Georgia, which is also available to the users.
Through joint efforts of its professionals, the company has developed a unique electronic map covering the entire country. Moreover, relevant software and equipment for transport control and different software packages for mobile devices have been developed to use the map.
The company is exploring the possibility of using the navigation system under the rural tourism development program. Both locals and foreign tourists may easily travel to different sights in Azerbaijan using the navigation system, which contains many points of interest.
Cities, regions, street names, hotels, banks, restaurants, stores, hospitals, malls, trade centers, schools, universities, service centers, and gas stations are reflected on the map.
Caspian NavTel is also involved in transport infrastructure of the country, providing up-to-date information regarding the condition of roads, current and major repairs, which helps to alleviate traffic jams and prevent traffic accidents.
The company is also popularizing a "culture of addresses" amongst the local population.
According to the company CEO Vuqar Askerov, the service provides obvious benefits for both local and foreign users.
"Our city is changing very quickly, a lot of street names have been changed. Currently, our system has old and new addresses. By selling our Caspian NavTel navigators with its program and a map, we provide the possibility of using both addresses. When accessing the menu there are two options -- the new addresses and the old Baku addresses. Navigator systems are very helpful to people who only know the address, especially drivers. Usually, citing an address, people cite some notable buildings located nearby. It is no longer necessary with our maps, which of course makes the search much easier," Askerov told AZERNEWS.
Caspian NavTel is the only company which has succeeded in GPS navigation in Azerbaijan, according to Askerov.
"The company has been collecting information about Azerbaijan since its establishment in 2007. We are responsible for every meter of our map. This is a very time-consuming job and we finished all the work in 2011. Since then we have been updating our map once in three months, adding such updates as changes in traffic, demolition of buildings, and creation of parks," he said.
While routing, the navigator finds the shortest way from Point A to Point B, saving not only time but also fuel, which is also a major advantage, Askerov said.
There are two types of navigators, online and offline ones. The online one shows the traffic conditions, closed roads, everything related to the situation on the road, while the offline version only shows the map.
"The map is convenient for foreigners as it contains the addresses of stores, restaurants and hotels."
According to Askerov, the Caspian NavTel mobile version is presently the most popular product. It can be used on Android, Symbian, Win Mobile and Apple operating systems.
As we said above the second direction of the company is fleet management system. The hardware of this system is available for 150 manats (about $191) and has monthly fee.
The monitoring system designed for the car shows where the car was parked, how fast and how long it is moving, and fuel consumption, thus providing comprehensive information. Each user has his (her) own individual code and can see the desired object on the map.
The monitoring system can be used not only for cars but also for children. It can also be used to track domestic animals. There is a variety of options; using personal trackers you can easily control the location of desired object.
Moreover, 90 percent of Azerbaijani banks and many state-run companies are cooperating with the company, using the GPS monitoring system.
Caspian NavTel also runs a free website, www.tixac.az, which can be used by anyone, to see the current traffic situation in the busy capital city and throughout Azerbaijan.
At present, the company is providing the service at its authorized shop located at Azadlig 228 E. The company provides a 3-month warranty on all navigators and one-year warranty on the tracking system modules, with technical support provided for all devices.
Navigators may also be purchased in major technological equipment stores of the country.
In the future, it is planned to create scratch cards for the mobile navigation map.
According to Askerov, currently work is underway on advertising.
"Now our map indicates only the names of restaurants or stores, but if the company would like to, we can provide full information about the object, which will make the card denser," he said.
The reliable company is working closely with Baku Taxi and the "189" service, providing them with navigators.
The company has been awarded twice for its successful performance, with "The First" award for innovations and provided services in 2009, and in early March 2010 it was conferred the "Ughur" ("Success") award for the development of navigation system technology.
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