Naver announced on the 11th that it has launched a ‘Public Transport Navigation’ service, allowing users to travel to their destinations more conveniently through the Naver Maps app.
The Public Transport Navigation service provides information needed during the journey based on the user’s current location. It includes ‘boarding and alighting alerts’ to help users not miss the bus or subway stops, a ‘route guidance bar’ that shows the current location on the route at a glance, the number of stops remaining until arrival, locations of subway train doors for quick transfers, and the exit numbers of subway stations.
To support multitasking, Naver Maps has added various convenient features. Firstly, it provides notifications through various means such as ▲voice guidance ▲pop-ups, ensuring users do not miss their boarding and alighting moments, even while reading or watching a movie. Additionally, a ‘shortcut to current route guidance’ button has been added to the map app screen, allowing users to explore places while receiving navigation and quickly switch back to the guidance screen if needed.
One of the key features of Naver Maps’ Public Transport Navigation service is that it is accessible to everyone without limitations imposed by smartphone OS. Unlike Android, iOS has restrictions on real-time location tracking in underground sections due to its OS characteristics, resulting in less support for subway navigation services on iOS devices. To address this, Naver Maps has implemented real-time navigation for iOS users, allowing them to receive alerts for alighting based on the selected train.
Naver Maps stated that it will continue to enhance the Public Transport Navigation service and solidify its position as an ‘all-in-one platform’ supporting users’ overall journey, including place exploration, navigation, and visit records. It plans to continuously strengthen its ‘real-time location engine’ to match users’ current positions and bus/subway arrival information more accurately. Furthermore, measures will be taken to enhance voice guidance to ensure that transportation disadvantaged individuals can move conveniently and safely using Naver Maps’ navigation services.
Lee Eun-sil, the leader overseeing Naver Maps services, said, “Naver Maps has been striving to establish itself as a highly satisfying ‘all-in-one platform’ that provides convenient and sophisticated travel experiences to 25 million users monthly. In the future, we plan to integrate the Public Transport Navigation service with the ‘Pedestrian Following’ service launched in July, enhancing support for detailed walking routes necessary before and after public transport usage, continuously improving functionalities after the service launch.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr