ABI Research says that by 2013 34% of all portable navigation devices will feature real-time two-way connectivity. ABI says that the two-way technology will be based on cellular technology or Wi-Fi. This connectivity will reportedly allow navigation vendors to offer enhanced navigational experiences through local search, dynamic POIs and real time traffic data as well as online updates and satellite images.

"What's at stake," says ABI Research principal analyst Dominique Bonte, "is the generation of new recurring revenue streams in an increasingly competitive PND market characterized by spectacular price erosion. In order to be successful, connected PND vendors will have to design seamless solutions and compelling services, and adopt the right business model. They will have to embrace open development platforms to stimulate the design of third-party applications."

ABI says the most promising tidbit to come from two-way connectivity is the ability to upload data in real-time. That allows people to upload real-time traffic data such as what is offered from Dash. Users can also upload their own POI’s for others to use.

Via ABI Research