Naver to provide independent navigation service

Naver Corp. has decided to go independent from Hyundai MnSoft to use its own technology for navigation service, accelerating its move to enhance its presence in in-car infotainment or connected car service sectors.

According to industry sources, the Korean internet platform giant is speeding up technology buildup on indoor and outdoor high-precision 3D positioning for smart mobilities including autonomous vehicles.

Naver amended its navigation terms and conditions on Jan. 14 and plans to launch a new navigation service based on its own positioning technology from Feb. 16. Along with the change, user information that has been stored in Hyundai MnSoft’s premise will be shifted to Naver’s territory, allowing for its navigation service upgrade with de-identified user information.

This change is intended to embrace a method developed by Naver for trajectory tracking technology, and de-identified user information will be provided to Naver Labs and KT Mappers for research purposes, said a Naver official.

[Photo provided by Naver Corp.]

The latest change is part of Naver’s journey to its own technology source since late November last year when it entered into a partnership agreement with Hyundai Motor Group to create a future mobility ecosystem. Sources anticipated Naver is aiming to play a bigger role in fully connected in-car infotainment or connected car services.

With its own technologies, Naver could enable users to receive car maintenance notifications together with driving information through Naver’s alarm service by keeping their digital car key and Naver ID in sync. Accurate parking locations could be found through Naver Map. Naver’s music-streaming service Vibe plus artificial intelligence (AI) may liven up the mood right after a remote start revs up the car engine. Passengers in the back seat could enjoy Naver’s cartoon, novel or TV series all on Naver’s content platform while on the go. Naver Pay and Naver Place could be combined with Naver’s navigation service to enable search, direction, reservation, food order, and payment behind the wheel with a few screen touches.

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