Augmentra, a leading developer of location-based mapping solutions, announced that its award-winning ViewRanger GPS outdoors navigation system is now available as a Smartphone app for the Apple iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

Designed for off-road - and offline - navigation, ViewRanger is the perfect companion for outdoor enthusiasts including campers and hikers, as well as field-based applications such as search-and-rescue. Among its many features, ViewRanger offers 'Buddy Beacon,' which allows customers to publish their whereabouts to Facebook or Twitter in real time (cellular data service is required).

Unlike costly dedicated GPS receivers that only offer basic map displays with limited information and no connectivity, ViewRanger is the first solution to offer access to high quality National Geographic US maps stored on the phone, off-road GPS location and tracking navigation, and location-based content sharing - including a Facebook application - in an integrated, easy to use mobile application across a wide range of devices.

Designed around a natural and intuitive display, ViewRanger is a unique tool that provides information about your immediate surroundings by transforming your iPhone, iPad, Android or Symbian-based Smartphone into a fully featured trail navigation system that works even without a cell phone signal. The app is ideal for tourists, walkers, cyclists, mountain bikers, horse riders, geocachers, river boaters - or anyone who enjoys the outdoors.

In addition, ViewRanger offers a built-in, real-time tracking feature called BuddyBeacon. BuddyBeacon uses the cellular network (where available) to emit a tracking signal so campers and other outdoor adventurers can provide information on their real time location to friends and family. Documented as a proven tracking solution, a number of organisations use ViewRanger to aid in their search and rescue efforts.

'Now that we're available on popular US operating systems for Android and iPhone, we anticipate consumers in the US will embrace our offering as well,' said says Craig Wareham, CEO of Augmentra.

National Geographic recently selected ViewRanger GPS as the only smartphone off-road navigation solution provider to offer mobile access to National Geographic's detailed topographic maps of the whole of the United States, including all 58 national parks.-TradeArabia News Service