DENVER -- 911ETA (Emergency Traffic Alerts) was named second runner-up in the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge. 911ETA is a Denver-based technology company, developing a system that would alert the motoring public about responding emergency vehicles. NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. 911ETA was second runner-up out of nine finalists in a competition that received more than 200 entries.
B&C Electronic Engineering developed 911ETA after years of creating microprocessor-based controls for the embedded environment. Before starting B&C Electronic Engineering, its executives had extensive background working for emergency management and developing response policy for the Denver Fire Department. The combination of technology and emergency response lead B&C founders Juan Gutierrez and Carl Johnson to see a need for and conceive of 911ETA. Currently, 911ETA is in a pilot program with Denver West Metro Fire Department as the company continues to develop the product for a public launch.
"On average, response time of an emergency vehicle is increased by at least 43 seconds because of traffic delays. In an emergency, 43 seconds can be a lifetime. Plus, there are frequent accidents between responding emergency vehicles and drivers, creating unnecessary hazards. This technology is about public safety and saving lives," said Gutierrez. "The money we've won from the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge will allow us to further develop this product and launch it sooner."
The nine finalist applications in the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge were evaluated by a prominent panel of seven judges consisting of executives from leading wireless, technology and venture capital companies, including deCarta, HTC, Imagination Technologies, Intel, Microsoft Bing Maps, Sony Ericsson and Tanla.
The technology behind 911ETA is patent pending and leverages GPS technology to inform the motoring public of responding emergency vehicles in the area. When fully functional, the system will alert drivers via GPS, smartphones, and Personal Navigation Devices (PND) of any emergency vehicles responding to a call. Additionally, the system will reroute traffic around emergency scenes that are blocking streets or intersections. Ultimately, 911ETA will save drive time, fuel, greenhouse gases and most importantly, lives.
First launched in 2003, the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge is a worldwide competition conducted by NAVTEQ Network for Developers™ (NN4D), daring application developers around the world to build innovative location-based services (LBS) using dynamic positioning technology and NAVTEQ® maps. Integrating the accuracy and richness of NAVTEQ digital map data and LBS content facilitates the timely evolution of the next wave of location-aware applications. The Global LBS Challenge has become the premier event in the LBS industry for shining the spotlight on global LBS innovation and opportunity. Over 32 percent of the finalists from the past six years have gone on to receive venture capital funding or launch commercially-distributed applications. For more information on this year's competition, go to www.LBSChallenge.com.
About B&C Electronic Engineering
B&C Electronic Engineering, Inc., designs, engineers, and manufactures custom microprocessor-based controls for the embedded environment. For more than 25 years the company has brought innovative solutions to customers in the communications, car wash, and wireless devices industries. The company has developed and is preparing to launch 911ETA by the end of 2010. For more information, visit www.911ETA.com.
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