Appello and HiQ together customise GPS navigation system for iPhone

Appello and HiQ together customise GPS navigation system for iPhone

Appello - which develops and sells advanced navigation equipment for telecoms,
logistics and the automotive industry - asked HiQ to assist with customising and
developing Wisepilot, Appello's navigation platform, for the iPhone. The new
application has been available for download from Apple's App Store since
February.

HiQ's job was to assist Appello with developing software for an iPhone version
of Wisepilot. Appello's navigation platform Wisepilot is one of the leading
products in the field and is available for more than 300 models of mobile phone.
In order that its navigation system should benefit from all the possibilities
provided by the iPhone, Appello asked HiQ to develop and customise the
application right from the basics using iPhone-specific technologies such as
Objective C, IUKit and Open GL ES. 

Appello produced its navigation system in close cooperation with some of its key
clients, including TeliaSonera and T-Mobile, which offer their customers the
application under their own brand names such as Telia Navigator. The application
can be downloaded free from Apple's App Store and consumers can then choose from
various subscription periods (day, week and year) which are simply purchased
directly on their mobile. 

“Our new application is unique in a number of ways. There are various navigation
systems currently on the market, but none that offer the user a free initial
trial period, great flexibility in terms of types of subscription and a unique
new function in the form of an online search facility. The navigator is an
online-based solution, so users are always guaranteed the latest maps, traffic
information and speed camera warnings. In addition, it is integrated with
Eniro's Yellow Pages, allowing the user to search for individuals and
businesses,” says Martin Svensson, Appello's CEO. 

“Our development project with HiQ worked very well. HiQ was able to supply the
right expertise and solid experience in iPhone development, with the result that
a high quality solution was produced within the agreed timescale and budget. We
are very pleased that we chose HiQ as our partner in this project,” says Martin
Svensson.

“Developing the specific iPhone applications for Telia and T-Mobile was an
enjoyable and challenging project, mainly because we used so many different
development frameworks in a single application. The design of the user interface
was an interesting process because we were forced to take into account
completely different aspects to those we traditionally consider when building
iPhone applications,” says Ph.D Johan Sanneblad of Business Development - Mobile
Applications at HiQ Göteborg.

When building a vehicle navigation system consideration also has to be given to
interaction aspects that differ radically from ordinary mobile applications. 

“There is increasing demand for expertise in the development of mobile apps,
both for the iPhone and for other platforms such as Android. The project for
Appello was one of the major development projects for the iPhone in Sweden in
the past year and we are naturally delighted to have been entrusted with this
job. I see it as confirmation that HiQ has a very strong brand for this type of
development task,” says Jerker Lindstén, Managing Director of HiQ Göteborg.

“HiQ has been working with mobility and communications for a number of years and
enjoys a very strong position in this field.  New platforms are creating
completely new ways for companies to reach their end customers via their
mobiles, which is a very exciting trend. Having a clear strategy where mobility
is concerned is becoming increasingly important, and we help our clients get it
right in this exciting market,” says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO of HiQ.

About Appello:
Appello is a leading provider of mobile GPS navigation systems and offers
bespoke solutions to mobile operators, mobile handset manufacturers and other
enterprises. Appello developed WISEPILOT™, a unique yet keenly priced navigation
platform for mobile units that supplies applications to the automotive and
telecoms industries. Appello's client base covers some of Europe's largest
mobile operators, telecoms distributors, web portals, address registers, mobile
handset manufacturers and telecoms integrators. Appello is headquartered in
Gothenburg, Sweden.

For further information, please contact:
Lars Stugemo, President and CEO HiQ, tel.: +46 8-588 90 000
Jerker Lindsten, Managing Director HiQ Göteborg, tel.: +46 31-743 91 00
Martin Svensson, CEO Appello Gothenburg, tel.: +46 730 255 299 
Annika Billberg, Head of Corporate Communications HiQ, tel. +46 8-588 90 015,
+46 704-200 103

HiQ is an IT and management consultancy company focusing on high-tech solutions
in the fields of communications, software development and simulation technology.
The company is a leading player in these fields and the Nordic region is its
domestic market. HiQ employs more than 1,000 people at offices in the Nordic
region and Eastern Europe. HiQ is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Mid Cap.
For more information, please visit www.hiq.se