4 November 2011 18:00 GMT / By Paul Lamkin
A bit of an odd one today for App of the Day in that it's not really an app at all. Well, it is – but it's much more than that - more an amalgamation of apps and widgets all in one. Not that you'll be able to go and grab it from the Android Market. But it will most likely be appearing on your handset soon. And if you live in France or Germany it probably already is.
Telmap
- Platform
- Android
- Price
- N/A
- Where
- TBC
Confused? Don't worry – so were we until we sat down for a chat with Motti Kushnir, chief marketing officer for Telmap, who told us all about it.
We've seen Telmap in the past, of course, but the company now sees itself as much more than a simple satnav.
Basically, the Telmap app is one that the company provides as a white-label app (as per its deal with Orange in France) that is part satnav, part Google Maps, and part Facebook Places - with a pinch of Groupon thrown in for good measure.
"Put simply it allows you to find stuff near you," explains Kushnir. "It could be an address, it could be a branded POI, it could be a friend through Facebook, it could be a coupon or a deal - you could even just type in Harry Potter and it will find the nearest cinema showing his film, and give you the info that you need."
But you've got these sorts of tools already available to you on your smartphone right? Usually under an app icon with a G on the front. But Kushnir is keen to stress that it's not just results that Telmap gives you, but the option to explore as well.
For example, find a restaurant and you'll not only be able to get driving or walking directions, complete with live traffic info and local weather, you'll also be able to check out reviews, check what Twitter has been saying about the place, or see if any of your Facebook friends are nearby.

Again though, we questioned Kushnir as to whether this isn't just what Google is already offering, albeit in a slightly more fragmented way (at the moment, anyway).
His response was that Telmap has a specific strength when it came to locality. "Unlike Google we don't believe that one size fits them all," he said.
"It's all about the ultra-local approach. If you are looking for a business in the UK, for example, during the last couple of years, due to the economical crisis, more than 35 per cent of small businesses have shut down. But their online identity usually remains.
"By relying on Google one out of every three searches means that you'll be walking or driving to a place that no longer exists."
Another differentiator to the Google approach, states the CMO, is that Telmap likes to take things a step further by closely integrating other connected apps and widgets.

For example, you've got a calender appointment marked in your smartphone that is an hour's drive away. Widgets and apps powered by Telmap would be able to calculate that the drive will, in fact, now take 3 hours due to heavy traffic - time you haven't got. It could then suggest an alternative route to a free Wi-Fi hotspot nearby, so you can at least take part in the appointment via a video conferencing app.
The Telmap app also has local, and personal, targeted adverts at the heart of its raison d'etre. "We've done a lot of work in this area and we found that if you are capable of forming an ad in a way that is relevant to the user, he won't just not be able to resist, he will see it as a service."

Ambitious stuff indeed, but with Intel now firmly behind the company (it acquired it for an undisclosed amount back in September), perhaps not too far beyond its reach. After all, the Israeli based outfit already boasts Orange FT Group, Vodafone, Vodacom, SFR, O2, Telefonica, SingTel, Optus, Cellcom, and Pelephone in its user base.
In the UK the demo app is fairly limited at present as it's waiting to be adapted for whatever network takes it on. The app itself was a bit clunky, and the content was scarce but we're looking forward to seeing it in all of its glory once it gets a proper UK release.
Apps, App of the day, Android apps, Telmap














Best new iPad apps to show off the Retina Display UPDATED: How to best test your hardware
APP OF THE DAY: Logos Quiz Game review (iPhone/iPad) Have you got a brand?
Best Windows Phone 7 apps Must download apps
Year in review 2011: July US loses shuttle but gains Spotify
Draw Something tips and tricks from the pros Zynga, gamers, artists, and cartoonist tell all
Is Facebook about to buy Opera to create own Facebook browser? EXCLUSIVE: Pocket-lint source tells us "yes"
Mazda CX5 2.2 TDI AWD A very zoomy SUV
Which smartphone is best for the sun? Screens for the Summer
Jony Ive: Next Apple product is our most important and best work yet Better than iPod, iPad and iPhone?
Batman Nokia Lumia 900: Limited edition phone heading to UK Who are you? I'm Batman
Dragon's Dogma Adventure time
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Roger likes a Tango at 12 o'clock
Porsche 911 Carrera (991) 2012 pictures and hands-on WANT
Canon EOS 5D MK III It's a hat-trick
Robert Moog Google doodle best yet, even better than Les Paul Synthesizer synthesiser
Microsoft Office coming to iPad and Android tablets this November A change of heart?
APP OF THE DAY: Mini Motor review (Android, iPhone and iPad) Top-down. Top app.
Toshiba AT300: The quad-core 10.1-inch ICS Android tablet UPDATE: Pricing unveiled
Sega serves up Virtua Tennis Challenge on the iPad and iPhone Smash-ing
APP OF THE DAY: Wyse PocketCloud Remote (Android) Work on your PC from anywhere in the world
Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
The compact system camera to beat all others?
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Is big beautiful?
HTC One V review
V for victory?
Huawei Ascend G300 review
Big bang for your hundred quid
FIFA 12: UEFA Euro 2012 review
Lacks polish, if not the Polish
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T review
Transforms your money in to a great tablet
Nikon Coolpix P510 review
Does the P510 zoom beyond expectations?
Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Like a Leica
Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.2TSi DSG review
The bug is back. Again.
BlackBerry Curve 9320 review
A BB for beginners?
Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR review
Can Fujifilm’s latest put the ‘super’ in superzoom?
HP Envy 14 Spectre review
The Ultrabook that isn't an Ultrabook
The Walking Dead: The Game review
Fleshed out zombie bonanza
Sony Cyber-shot HX200V review
Superzoom master keeps the bar high