Christmas parties and events get new direction

27 November 2006
Press Release

Christmas parties and events get new direction with Invite²GO

For immediate release.

Santa won’t get lost this year and finding your way to an event has become much simpler with the launch of Invite²GO, a new solution that allows people to view and print personalised maps and directions to any location in New Zealand from an invitation sent by email.

“Anyone with access to the Internet can try this for free”, said GeoSmart Limited’s Business Development Manager, Luigi Cappel. “We launched it at this time of year so that people sending out invitations to Christmas parties could try it out to make sure people arrive at the right place at the right time and can have some fun with it. Everyone is starting to play with maps on the Internet and this is a practical example of an application that provides real value as well as being fun to use.”

Invite²GO www.invite2go.co.nz allows people to send an email which can include things like starting time, date, photo or logo as well as being geocoded to a street address or other fixed location. The recipient can click on a button which allows them to enter the address they want to leave from to go to a meeting/party/event and view a route map and print the map and turn by turn directions neatly on an A4 sheet to take with them in the car or cab.

The service is Free to low volume users and there are enhanced features for commercial users. It is also available as an API which can be embedded into websites or software such as practice management, hotel motel management, event management etc.

Background

This is something very new that comes from GeoSmart’s SmartFIND stable of mapping API’s. It is possible because they physically drove every public road in New Zealand mapping the road centreline as well as lots of other information such as turn restrictions (no left turns etc) and one way streets. They then combined this information in their mapping laboratory with information gained from stereo imagery aerial photography. GeoSmart operates 2 aircraft fully equipped with sophisticated camera and sensing equipment.

Other sites using GeoSmart’s SmartFIND technology for maps on their websites include Bayleys Real Estate www.bayleys.co.nz (where you can view properties for sale complete with the closest schools, health and shopping locations), Team Up which is the Ministry of Education site, were you can find all schools in New Zealand at www.teamup.co.nz and Eldernet at www.eldernet.co.nz where you can find your nearest rest home or elderly service. GeoSmart is are also the provider for SmartFIND on Vodafone Live where you can get maps and directions straight from your phone. GeoSmart also developed the NZ Automobile Association site at www.aasmartmap.co.nz which will be assisting many people with their holiday plans this summer.

GeoSmart is also the mapping provider for car navigation and Fleet Management for brands such as Navman, Siemens VDO, BMW, Honda and Holden.

Ends

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