PALO ALTO, Calif., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The increasing amount of personal and business time and fuel wasted in congested traffic coupled with the sharp rise in gasoline prices over the past several years, has stimulated renewed interest in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). This is resulting in the widespread deployment of real-time traffic information, which is becoming a mainstream automotive feature.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://transportation.frost.com/ ), Analysis of Accuracy and Coverage of Real-Time Traffic Information, finds that Inrix Inc. and Traffic.com Inc. provide valuable real-time traffic information to drivers. However, Inrix leads based on the number of U.S. metropolitan areas covered and on miles of coverage per metro area. Predicted travel times provided by the two companies are compared to actual travel times in three metro areas to judge their relative accuracy.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the Analysis of Accuracy and Coverage of Real-Time Traffic Information, send an e-mail to Vanessa Quezada, Corporate Communications, at vanessa.quezada@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. An overview will be sent to you via e- mail upon receipt of the above information.

"Real-time traffic information is now available to consumers through a number of channels, such as the Internet and on-board navigation systems," notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Joerg Dittmer. "This can convert telematics systems from a rarely used to a 'must-have' automotive feature."

Although drivers need navigation assistance only on unfamiliar routes, traffic information is valuable even on routes well known to the driver. Hence, drivers greatly favor on-board navigation that incorporates real-time traffic information. Going beyond mere route guidance, this feature enables the system to guide drivers around trouble spots where traffic flow is slow.

Inrix, Inc. and Traffic.com Inc. are competing to become the leading provider of real-time traffic information in the United States. They provide this information based on readings from road sensors and probe vehicles. Predictive traffic data goes a step further by combining real-time traffic flow information with data such as historical traffic patterns and school schedules to allow drivers to plan their trips even more precisely.

Over the past five years, Traffic.com has worked closely with state departments of transportation (DOTs) to enhance publicly available traffic information. It has offered state DOTs low-cost installations of radar detector-based traffic flow sensors, measuring speed, flowcount, and occupancy, in exchange for exclusive commercial rights to the data generated.

On the other hand, Inrix, spurred by proprietary technology licensed from Microsoft Research, has focused on providing both real-time and predictive traffic information nationwide, within the last year.

"Inrix was found to cover more metropolitan areas, and more miles in each of the three metropolitan areas that were the focus of the study," cites Dittmer. Inrix took the lead in accuracy of predicted travel times in Providence, and Traffic.com came ahead in Philadelphia, while results for Washington D.C. are mixed.

Inrix, Inc. and Traffic.com provide valuable information, but there is no distinct winner. Both companies expect to continue to increase their coverage and develop their technologies to provide increasingly useful information to drivers.

The Analysis of Accuracy and Coverage of Real-Time Traffic Information is part of the North American Advanced Automotive Technologies subscription, which also includes research services on topics such as automotive sensors, safety systems, and powertrain and emissions control technologies. Interviews with Frost & Sullivan analysts are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective, and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com/ .

Analysis of Accuracy and Coverage of Real-Time Traffic Information N113-18 Contact: Vanessa Quezada Corporate Communications - North America P: 210.477.8427 F: 210.348.1003 E: vanessa.quezada@frost.com Michael Banks Corporate Communications - Europe P: +44 (0)20 7915 7876 F: +44 (0)20 7730 3343 E: michael.banks@frost.com Alice Chia Corporate Communications - Southeast Asia & ANZ P: +603.6204.5899 F: +603.6201.7402 E: alice.chia@frost.com Ravinder Kaur Corporate Communications - South Asia, Middle East P: +91 44 42044515 F: +91 44 24314264 E: ravinder.kaur@frost.com Jorgelina Pecina Corporate Communications - Latin America P: 54-11 4777-9951 F: 54-11 4777-0071 E: jorgelina.pecina@frost.comhttp://www.frost.com/

CONTACT: Vanessa Quezada, Corporate Communications - North America,
+1-210-477-8427, or fax, +1-210-348-1003, or vanessa.quezada@frost.com , or
Michael Banks, Corporate Communications - Europe, +44-0-20-7915-7876, or fax,
+44-0-20-7730-3343, or michael.banks@frost.com , or Alice Chia, Corporate
Communications - Southeast Asia & ANZ, +603-6204-5899, or fax, +603-6201-7402,
or alice.chia@frost.com , or Ravinder Kaur, Corporate Communications - South
Asia, Middle East, +91-44-42044515, or fax, +91-44-24314264, or
ravinder.kaur@frost.com , or Jorgelina Pecina, Corporate Communications -
Latin America, +54-11-4777-9951, or fax, +54-11-4777-0071, or
jorgelina.pecina@frost.com , all of Frost & Sullivan

Web site: http://www.frost.com/
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