­Mapping service provider, Wayfinder has extended its agreement with Sony Ericsson which will enable Wayfinder to preload a richer, longer term navigation offering on a range of current and future Sony Ericsson mobile phones.

The Wayfinder Navigator application allows consumers to download Tele Atlas-based maps of more than 70 countries to their mobile phones and avoid expensive data roaming costs, even when travelling abroad.

To date, Wayfinder has provided a three-month trial of its Navigator application on a range of Sony Ericsson handsets, including the recently launched GPS-handsets W760 Walkman and C702 Cyber-shot and the upcoming C905 Cyber-shot phone. Additionally Wayfinder has provided a 1 year license to users of the P1i smart phone from Sony Ericsson. Under the new agreement, the Sony Ericsson phones will feature full navigation capabilities, including lane and sign post information, which is now available as a 12 month regional, continental European or lifetime navigation offering.

“With the increased importance of GPS-phones in our portfolio, I am delighted to further expand our relationship with Wayfinder,” says Rikko Sakaguchi, Corporate Vice President and Head of Creation & Development, Sony Ericsson. “We work closely together in order to deliver a user experience second to none in the fast growing location based services field soon to become a mass market service,” he continues.

Source:cellular-news