Sat-nav’s store draw

07th February 2009

Turn left to shop! That’s the instruction you could soon hear on your sat-nav, as the devices are set to come pre-loaded with Asda’s network of supermarkets.

The retailer is the first in the UK to sign up to a new advertising deal with digital map maker Navteq. This will see every one of its outlets highlighted by the distinctive green Asda logo, rather than a generic supermarket sign.

Navteq provides mapping for seven million navigation units in Britain, and it says more than 200 companies have already signed up to the Direct Access advertising scheme internationally. In the future, the technology could enable companies to provide more point-of-interest information to users – such as store opening times, petrol prices at filling stations or even special offers.