| Redmond,
WA � August 2004 � A gallon of regular unleaded gasoline costs nearly $2
across America, and the Energy Information Administration says not to expect
a break before Labor Day.(1) Although the Travel Industry Association of
America (TIA) forecasts a 3 percent increase in leisure travel for the
2004 summer season, it has been concerned that the rising cost of gasoline
could take its toll on summer travel plans.(2) These concerns are substantiated
by a Gallup Poll that indicates 59 percent of Americans said gas prices
will cause financial hardship for them this summer; more than half said
it will cause them to drive less than they might otherwise.(3)
With
the help of new Microsoft® Streets & Trips 2005 with GPS
Locator and some gas-saving techniques, summer travelers can hit the road
with confidence and rest assured the money spent filling up their gas tanks
won�t be wasted. Comprehensive, customizable and current maps, turn-by-turn
driving directions, advanced routing options, road construction updates,
and more than 1.8 million points of interest mean less time getting to
the destination and more time enjoying the getaway.
�Gas
costs about 50 cents more a gallon now than just a year ago, so even fuel-efficient
cars cost more than $20 to fill up,� said Danielle Damasius, product manager
for Streets & Trips at Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). �Most of us wouldn�t
think to turn to technology to help save money on that summer road trip,
but Streets & Trips 2005 includes ways to calculate fuel costs and
a suite of tools to help travelers get the most out of their full tank.�
Drivers
can use Streets & Trips 2005 to plan their trip, their way:
-
Fuel
consumption can be easily managed by entering gas mileage, the size of
the tank and at what point the driver would like to be prompted to stop
for gas. Drivers can also calculate fuel costs by entering the current
price of gas and generating a cost summary for the trip.
-
A personal
driving profile makes it easy to for drivers customize travel by specifying
the time of day they will be driving, how many stops they want to make,
their average driving speed and their choice of road types. For each segment
of the trip, drivers can select the quickest route via major highways and
arterials, or they can choose the shortest route, which could take them
on back roads and city streets.
Drivers
can save on the next road trip by following some simple driving techniques.(4)
-
Lay
off the lead foot. Drivers can maximize mileage by accelerating and decelerating
gently. Gunning the engine and hitting the brakes can reduce gas mileage
by from 5 percent to 33 percent.
-
Kill
the engine. Idling more than a few minutes costs more in gas than restarting
the vehicle.
-
Stick
to 60. U.S. Department of Energy statistics indicate every 5 miles an hour
over 60 mph costs an extra dime per gallon used.
-
Set
the cruise. Cruise control usually increases gas mileage, so maintaining
a steady speed helps drivers get the most bang for their buck.
-
Keep
in tune. Regular auto maintenance can keep from burning excess fuel; an
out-of-tune car can burn 40 percent more than a well-tuned one.
Streets
& Trips 2005 with GPS Locator includes the following new and updated
features:
-
New!
Plug and play GPS receiver. It�s easy to hit the road with GPS. After completing
the simple download of Streets & Trips to their notebook PC and Pocket
Streets to their mobile device, drivers can plug the included GPS receiver
into their notebook PC�s USB port and view their travels in real time.
They also can add real-time GPS to their Pocket PC or Smartphone with an
expansion sled (sold separately).
-
New!
Pocket Streets for Smartphone. Pocket Streets for Windows Mobile(TM)-based
Pocket PCs and Smartphones is included in Streets & Trips 2005 at no
extra charge.
-
Updated!
Accurate mapping data for the United States and Canada. Streets & Trips
2005 includes more than 5.4 million miles of local, city and highway roads
and more than 1.8 million points of interest. It includes comprehensive
and current mapping data from leading providers of geographical information
such as NAVTEQ, Geographic Data Technology Inc. and Woodall Publications
Corp.
More
information on Streets & Trips 2005 can be found at www.microsoft.com/streets.
Availability
Microsoft
Streets & Trips 2005 with GPS Locator is scheduled for availability
now for an estimated retail price of $129 (U.S.). Microsoft Streets &
Trips 2005 (standard) is available now for an estimated retail price of
$39.95 (U.S.).(5) Microsoft Corp. offers a $10 (U.S.) mail-in rebate to
qualified customers.
About
Microsoft Home Retail Division
Microsoft
Home Retail Division (HRD) is a leading publisher of home software for
the PC. Celebrating Microsoft�s 20 years of delivering products that help
consumers accomplish and enjoy everyday tasks, HRD brings consumers Microsoft
Encarta®, the industry�s best-selling encyclopedia brand; Microsoft
Digital Image products, which combine advanced photo-editing features and
unmatched organizational tools with unparalleled ease of use; Microsoft
Money, easy-to-use personal finance management software; Streets &
Trips, Microsoft�s all-in-one mapping solution with points of interest,
routes, driving directions and Pocket PC compatibility in one value-priced
software package; and Microsoft Works Suite, the best-selling(6) integrated
home productivity software that offers six of the latest essential home
software titles in one package for tremendous value. Used with the MSN®
network of Internet services, these products have a unique depth and mobility
that allow users to take their PC experience even further. More information
about the Home Retail Division product lineup is available at www.microsoft.com/discover.
About
Microsoft
Founded
in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions
that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
(1)
The Boston Herald, Aug. 21, 2004
(2)
TIA Forecast, May 2004
(3)
USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll, May 2004
(4)
U.S. Department of Energy�s 2004 Fuel Efficiency Guide
(5)
Actual retail price may vary.
(6)
NPD Techworld(SM), March 1993-May 2004, based on total U.S. retail sales
Note:
Microsoft, Windows Mobile, Encarta and MSN are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners. |