Press Release

HI and IT Naviken to jointly formulate
the 2D/3D integrated map format "XIP Format"

-The 2D and 3D map data has been stored into one format
for the first time in the world! -

HI CORPORATION (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kazuo Kawabata hereinafter "HI") and Navigation System Researchers' Association (Bureau: MITSUI & CO., LTD., hereinafter "IT Naviken") announced today that they have jointly formulated the world's first integrated map format "XIP"(eXchange format for Information Provider) which enables the 2D and 3D map data to be stored into one format.

The XIP format is an intermediate format of each vendor's original map format, and the format has the following flexible features:

• It enables the differences of each format to be absorbed into one, while taking advantage of the characteristic features of each format. For example the map of company A may be more detailed than other vendors' maps and the map of company B may be enriched with building and shop information.
• Since the 2D/3D map rendering is supported, various expressions such as 2D only, 3D only, or the combination of 2D + 3D, are applicable.
• It enables the use of the multiple map formats in the same service even if the 2D and 3D map formats are from different vendors'.

[ Before ]	[ When Using XIP Supported Engine ]
The dedicated Map Engine and API are necessary for the map data to be used in the service available in each device.	Each map vendor does not need to provide a dedicated engine for each device once the converter is created, and the content provider can freely select a map format according to the service.

If the map engines supported by this format become embedded into various devices, each map vendor does not need to provide a dedicated engine to display their map for each device.
Also, a content provider is able to combine various map data freely suitable for the service they provide, as well as providing a service that is displayed over multiple devices.
HI and IT Naviken expect that the XIP format will enable the use of maps for various devices in which maps have been difficult to implement previously, as well as promoting the deployment of more convenient services for various devices in a device restriction-free environment.

〔About IT Naviken〕
For more information, please visit http://www.naviken.jp/.