Starting this Saturday, XM's real-time traffic data service for GPS nav systems - XM NavTraffic - is adding on six new coverage areas to its reptoire. For the first time, XM NavTraffic subscribers will be able to view real-time traffic info in three Canadian cities, with a total of 50 major markets across North American.
The six new XM NavTraffic markets include: Fresno, CA; Jacksonville, FL; Montreal, QB; Salt Lake City, UT; Toronto, ON; and Vancouver, BC. Of note: Portland, OR now has expanded coverage with traffic flow data available allowing you to see how fast traffic is moving. On top of these 6 markets being added on March 31st, XM NavTraffic is currently available in 44 other major markets.
XM NavTraffic feeds data on incidents, such as accidents and road construction, directly to a vehicle's GPS navigation system via XM's satellite pipeline. The driver is alerted to these blockages through the navigation screen, letting you route around a jam before you get caught up in the traffic snarl. In select areas, you can also view an overlay of color-coded traffic flow information indicating the average speed of travel along your planned route.
The traffic data is aggregated by NAVTEQ Traffic from data sources that include police and emergency services, commercial traffic data providers, road sensors, traffic cameras, eyewitness reports, and real-time aircraft surveillance reports.
XM says they expect XM NavTraffic to be available in 200,000 vehicles by the end of 2008.
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