Deliver Your News to the World

Bypass Traffic Jams and Stress this Labor Day Weekend with New Navigation Service


WEBWIRE

Motorola and Avis bring personalized, real-time traffic updates and detours to Avis Assist, powered by VIAMOTO®

PARSIPPANY, NJ and LIBERTYVILLE, IL – 29 August 2005 – Avis Rent A Car System, Inc., one of the world’s leading car rental brands and Motorola, Inc, (NYSE: MOT) a global leader in wireless communications today announced the addition of real-time traffic updates to Avis Assist, Avis’ portable Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation solution. Powered by Motorola’s award-winning VIAMOTO technology, the newly enhanced Avis Assist service will help keep drivers on track and on time by avoiding traffic congestion and construction along planned routes.

The new Avis Assist feature uses real-time traffic information from Traffic.com Inc, which is collected from Traffic.com’s proprietary network of digital roadside sensors, government sources, operations centers, aircraft, mobile units, and probe data. Drivers simply need to push one button on their Avis Assist device to stay informed about the road ahead through personalized, accurate and timely traffic updates.

“According to consumer research, U.S. drivers want to incorporate GPS navigation services into their travels to avoid common frustrations – such as getting lost and sitting in traffic jams,” said Blake Bullock, marketing manager for VIAMOTO, Motorola, Inc. “Motorola has developed easy-to-use VIAMOTO navigation products to address these needs. By working with premier companies such as Avis and Traffic.com, we’re pleased to provide new traffic and detour features that keep drivers moving during the busy holiday travel season and beyond.”

“Avis prides itself on offering the optimal point-to-point driving experience for its customers,” said Scott Deaver, executive vice president of marketing for Cendant Car Rental Group, parent of Avis. “With added traffic reporting capabilities, Avis Assist users will travel more efficiently and experience a more enjoyable journey.”

“At Traffic.com, we deliver the most accurate and timely traffic information available,” said Robert Verratti, chief executive officer, Traffic.com, Inc. “Our real-time updates are an ideal complement to Avis Assist – packaged in one easy-to-use Motorola mobile device – delivering all of the information drivers need for a hassle-free trip.”

Avis Assist’s real-time traffic updates enhance the driving experience with new on-the-road convenience and travel efficiencies. With the touch of a button, customers are provided with all the details they need to get from point A to point B, including turn-by-turn route guidance, reports of traffic construction, congestion, accidents and other incidents, and detour options that can be used to find an alternate way to their destination.

Pricing and Availability
Avis Assist is available today at more than 60 Avis locations nationwide and can be rented with any Avis vehicle for $9.95 a day. Drivers can reserve Avis Assist equipment in advance by calling 1-888-777-AVIS.

The VIAMOTO solution is also available for wireless subscribers to use on select GPS-enabled phones.* For more information, please visit www.motorola.com/viamoto.

About Avis Assist
To experience the optimal driving experience, Avis Assist users simply provide a destination to a call center advisor or select the destination on the Motorola mobile device. Using GPS technology to pinpoint the exact location of the handset, a route is calculated and downloaded to the device. Then, users can follow the automatic voice guidance instructions provided through the handset’s speakerphone.

Directions are street specific and repeated often. If a driver makes a wrong turn, a new route to the destination is automatically determined in order to ensure that Avis Assist users end up at the desired location with ease.

About Avis
Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate one of the world’s leading car rental brands, providing business and leisure customers with a wide range of services at nearly 2,000 locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Latin American / Caribbean region. Avis is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty, ranking as the number one car rental company in the 2005 Brand Keys® Customer Loyalty Index. The company is part of Cendant Car Rental Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), a diversified global provider of business and consumer services primarily within the real estate and travel sectors. For more information visit www.avis.com or www.cendant.com/media.

About Motorola
Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need on the go. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004. For more information: www.motorola.com.

# # #

*Network dependent feature, not available in all areas. Requires subscription to both voice and data service. Airtime, data charges, and/or additional charges may apply. Contact your service provider for details.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

© Motorola, Inc. 2005



WebWireID3836





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.