The Mapbox Navigation SDK 2.0 GA (General Availability) is now available for both Android and iOS. The Nav SDK 2.0 GA has integrated the latest version of the Maps SDK and is ready for deployment in production mobile applications via the Google Play and Apple iTunes App Store. This gives developers seamless integration of both active navigation and freedrive modes and includes features including a multitude of customization options, predictive caching, 3D buildings and topography. With the release of version 2.0 of the Nav SDK, developers now have a full suite of features and tools to build out a complete end-to-end mobility and driving experience for their business needs.

One of the primary features of the Nav SDK is the ability to personalize the navigation experience and tune it to a specific brand. This unique ability attracts large Automotive OEMs that demand a branded user experience; logistics providers seeking to customize experiences for multiple deliveries, and consumer application developers looking to address recreational driving opportunities. A key aspect of personalization sits within the Mapbox platform. Styles tools allow customers to modify the elements to meet their design needs. In addition to optimizing fonts and styles, developers also can experiment with different color schemes on congestion and traffic as well as driving preferences including motorcycles, vehicles, and bicycles.

Nav SDK 2.0 takes away much of the worry when driving in areas where connectivity is low or spotty by providing predictive ambient caching. This works by having the application automatically download map tiles onto the user’s local device based on several factors. Some of these include the user’s current location, their routed or predicted destination, and history of driving. As these map tiles are downloaded and there is a larger geography around the user’s local area that is cached, any loss of connectivity will not disrupt the driver’s use of the application unless they drive outside of the area of cached coverage without the return of a signal.

It is important for the end user to experience a navigation session that is as close to the ground truth as possible. The new SDK provides both 3D buildings and topography of the local area. Coupled with this is the enhanced arrival experience of highlighting the building or landmark once the vehicle approaches the geofence radius of the destination POI.

For businesses and developers alike, having insight into how end users interact with services can be the difference between success and failure. With the Mapbox platform, the data is available and accessible to developers. To further capture customer insights, Nav SDK 2.0 includes the Customer Feedback UI to provide end users with a feedback mechanism to improve the overall navigation quality.

NCS, a multinational IT corporation headquartered in Singapore, sought to partner with a provider that allows for integration of live, updating data sets relevant to the navigation experience including a new horizon feature, while giving complete control over presentation and ownership. They chose to work with Mapbox since this control and ownership of data is critical to their needs.

“We have been working closely with Mapbox on the Navigation SDK v2. The team has displayed commitment and focus in supporting our journey in developing smart transport solutions in Singapore, and we believe the Nav SDK v2 will help us bring innovative features to market. We are excited about the possibilities ahead,” Damien Kopp, Lead of NEXT Products and Platforms, NCS

While navigation is important and central to the Nav SDK experience, there may be instances where users are in an unassisted navigation mode. To enhance the experience of the passive mode, Mapbox Horizon provides real time information about the roads with traffic congestion/incidents and speed limits along the road segments. Enhanced camera functions optimize the viewing angle (map tilt) as well as provide automatic zoom levels for both the unassisted and active navigation functions. Today, Mapbox Horizon ships in beta as part of Nav SDK 2.0.

Mapbox continues to make its pricing model transparent to the developer community. This allows the determination up front for the costs of using the SDK as well as extrapolating costs as usage scales and grows. In addition to the current unlimited trips for monthly active users, we now also offer a per trip pricing for customers that only require a small number of trips per month. Find the pricing guide here.

Download the new Nav SDK v2.0 and start navigating today.