We noted a few days ago that a real-time traffic monitoring and trending feature had been added to Google Maps.  Today, NAVTEQ announced a partnership with Nokia which will provide the company with real time GPS position and velocity data from Nokia phones.  The data will enhance NAVTEQ’s existing suite of tremendously popular traffic routing products available on personal navigation devices by Garmin and Magellan, to name a few.

Unlike Google’s data collection technique, this will not be an opt-in feature and each of the millions properly equipped Nokia phones will anonymously and privately provide NAVTEQ with the required data.

Like Google Maps’ new traffic feature, this move by NAVTEQ, assuming you’re not a die-hard privacy advocate, should surely yield positive and highly sought after improvements to the lives commuting consumers.  I can’t think of a subject I’ve given more thought to than quelling the growing problem of traffic congestion, and only because I waste a considerable amount of time sitting in it.  So I’m definitely glad to see tools emerging to help solve, or at least improve, the situation.