Free driving directions via cell phone

Navteq recently announced that Dial Directions has selected Navteq map data to power its voice-activated, directional phone service. Dial Directions' free service is designed to enable mobile phone users to verbally request directions to addresses, destinations and events.

Where available, the new service works from all cellular phones and on all wireless carriers and can be activated by dialing "D-I-R-E-C-T-I-O-N-S" (347-328-4667) and speaking a starting location and destination (an address, intersection, place or event). Users then receive driving directions instantly via text messaging.

The Dial Directions service is currently available in more than 2,700 cities across 15 major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S., including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Users of Dial Directions will have access to Navteq's detailed map data with millions of points of interest, including restaurants, hotels, airports, gas stations, ATM’s and other destinations.

According to Navteq, Dial Directions is available to anyone with a mobile phone -- no downloads, special phone or Internet plan is required. The service combines innovations in voice user interfaces, speech recognition and navigation, resulting in a caller experience that is pleasant and efficient, said the company.