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SEARCHPARSIPPANY, N.J. -- Avis announced it is test-marketing a new phone-based navigation system, called "Avis Assist," from Motorola Inc. For a daily fee, Avis customers at the Dallas Fort Worth air...
PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- Avis announced it is test-marketing a new phone-based navigation system, called "Avis Assist," from Motorola Inc.
For a daily fee, Avis customers at the Dallas Fort Worth airport can now rent the system, which provides turn-by-turn voice instructions.
Avis Assist is scheduled to expand to Dulles International Airport in the Washington D.C. area in early March.
Avis Assist uses a GPS-enabled Motorola iDEN i88s mobile handset, outfitted with a speakerphone. The service is continuously updated with map data and integrated with point-of-interest databases.
Via speed dialing, the customer connects with the call center and provides an Avis "advisor" with a destination address or requests a directory search for a local point of interest. A route is then downloaded to the Avis Assist unit and the Motorola iDEN handset. Then, turn-by-turn directions are provided.
According to the Airports Council International, DFW was the sixth busiest airport in the world in 2001 with over 55 million passengers. DFW is also home to one of the busiest Avis locations.
"We believe that the entire location-based services market will benefit greatly with forward thinking enterprises like Avis," said Neal Campbell, general manager of location services for Motorola's Personal Communications Sector. "Motorola's VIAMOTO suite of software is designed to work with our customers goals of discovering new revenue-generating services that meet the needs of their consumers."
Scott Deaver, executive vice president of marketing for Avis, adds: "Avis is committed to providing technologically advanced products that exceed our customers' expectations. Motorola and the other partners have developed a portable navigation system that gives our customers a system they can enjoy in whatever vehicle they choose to rent."
For the DFW market test, Motorola will provide its i88s GPS mobile phones and VIAMOTO location software. TeleCel will provide fulfillment service for the product. Unity Call Center Group will provide call center services.
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