Pioneer Launches Its First iPhone App - AVIC FEEDS

Pioneer has released its first application for Apple’s iPhone. Created for use with its new AVIC-U310BT and AVIC-Z110BT in-dash navigation systems, Pioneer’s AVIC FEEDS app establishes a link between the Apple and in-dash Pioneer products.

According to the corporation that specializes in digital entertainment products, this method enables iPhone owners to find points of interest or search for destinations ahead of time on their phone and easily access them via Bluetooth from their navigation systems. Best of all, it allows drivers to receive convenient, turn-by-turn voice guidance while still being able to use their iPhone for other purposes.

Pioneer discloses how its app came about, sharing that independent research has shown a significant percentage – more than 22 percent – of registered Pioneer navigation-system owners also having and using an iPhone.

“We are continually looking for ways to enhance a driver’s experience by providing high quality navigation and entertainment products that incorporate convenience and safety features,” Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the mobile business group of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., said. “After researching what technologies and consumer electronics products our registered owners embrace, we identified a natural opportunity to integrate the features and functions of our navigation systems with Apple’s iPhone.”

According to Pioneer, ways to navigate using AVIC FEEDS include:

POI Search - Points of interest (POI) searched through Pioneer’s AVIC FEEDS App can be selected by simply choosing the pin drop of the desired location.
Take a Photo - Photos taken on an iPhone that are geotagged with geographical metadata such as location coordinates can be saved for future use as a POI.
Saved Photos - Geotagged photos sent to users or photos from the Internet can be used as a POIs.

The company also reveals in a report that destinations created from a POI search or geo-tagged photos are converted as phone contacts to the navigation system via Bluetooth. The routable contacts are then identified by a unique icon that appears next to the contact in the navigation system, once the user syncs their phone book. The software will ultimately calculate a route and provide turn-by-turn guidance to that location, as the user selects a respective contact.

Download AVIC FEEDS for iPhone
(compatible with iPhone; requires OS 2.2.1 or later)