(2)	This questions regard's some information about navigation systems
manufacturers: Which are the leading companies in the world that
develop navigation system software or  software already applied on
certain hardware for in car navigation (GPS or GPRS)? Which are the
leading companies that develop the maps for the navigation systems?
What are the main collaborations between software navigation systems
developers and map developers? And what are the main collaborations
between software navigation systems developers and relevant hardware
manufacturers? (I would be pleased to know which of the companies
mentioned are publicly traded?).

1. Leading companies in the world that develop navigation system software

This answer may generate some debate.  In my opinion the leading companies are:

DeLorme -- www.delorme.com

Destinator (a division of HTSC) -- www.destinator1.com

Garmin -- www.garmin.com (they are also a hardware manufacturer)

Magellan (a division of Thales Navigation)-- www.magellangps.com (they
are also a hardware manufacturer; they supplied Hertz with NeverLost)

Pharos -- www.pharosgps.com

TomTom -- www.tomtom.com

TravRoute -- www.travroute.com 

There are a large number of other, smaller companies that are
developing software of this kind as well.


2. Which are the leading companies that develop the maps.

This one will not generate much debate.  The leading companies are:

  NAVTEQ (formerly Navigation Technologies)-- www.navtech.com
  TeleAtlas (who recently acquired GDT) -- www.teleatlas.com

3. What are the main collaborations between software navigation systems
developers and map developers? 

Most of the software companies do not have their own map databases. 
The two exceptions are DeLorme and TravRoute, both of which have their
own databases for the U.S.  The map database companies have APIs that
developers can use to build applications but don't market applications
of their own.

Some software companies license data from only one map database
company and others license data from both.

Destinator licenses principally from NAVTEQ
TomTom licenses data from TeleAtlas
Pharos licenses from TeleAtlas



4. And what are the main collaborations between software navigation
systems developers and relevant hardware manufacturers?

Siemens' VDOdayton (www.vdodayton.com) licenses data from both NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas

Visteon, which was spun-off from Ford, (visteon.com) has been talking
about developing a system for a few years.  They may or may not have
selected suppliers yet.

Detinator, Pharos, TomTom and TravRoute all have products that run on
PDAs and "Smart Phones".

5. Public Companies

Many of the companies listed above are publicly traded.  Some
exceptions include DeLorme, Pharos and TravRoute.