deCarta has announced a software development kit (SDK) intended to ease the process of building customized and differentiated navigation applications. The Navigation Software Developer Kit (SDK) builds on the company's Rich Map Engine, the same technology used by service providers such as Google and Yahoo!, according to the… company.

(Click here for larger image of SDK screenshot)

deCarta describes its Navigation SDK as a “comprehensive development suite” that includes software, sample code, sample data, and “complete” documentation. Additionally, it provides an API (application programming interface) for accessing all of the functions required to create customized navigation applications, according to the company.

Navigation functionality supported by the SDK is said to include:

• Fast route calculations, supporting drivers preference for shortest, fastest, avoid toll roads, and avoid freeways along with support for time-of-day turn restrictions
• Multi-point routing
• Efficient ways to select a street address or desired point-of-interest as a destination
• Easy to understand 2D and 3D maps with preferred points-of-interest shown along a highlighted route
• Timely route guidance instructions presented in easy to understand text, voice, and graphical formats
• Patented algorithms to accurately determine a vehicle position eliminating GPS errors and ambiguity

deCarta CEO J. Kim Fennell stated, “In the industry's rapidly growing and competitive environment, manufacturers must be agile in bringing differentiated applications to market. The Navigation SDK allows personal navigation device producers to focus their resources on customizing and enhancing the user interface, rather than spending valuable time constructing the increasingly complex navigation platform.”

The Navigation SDK is expected to be generally available for Windows CE in Q1 of 2007, and for Linux in Q2. The software will be demonstrated at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January.

 
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