Blogged live from DEMOfall by Alex Iskold

Dash Navigation has launched the first truly connected automotive navigation system. Dash plugs into your car's cigarette lighter and connects to the Internet via cellular networks and Wi-Fi.

Dash excels at helping you avoid traffic. The traffic information comes from road sensors and other Dash systems that are on the road. The information flows over to the Dash servers, gets aggregated and then pushed back to individual Dash systems - ensuring up to date traffic information.

Dash also innovates in the directions space, by offering multiple routes to the destination with corresponding time/distance tradeoffs. When you do not know your friend's address, your friend can login to Dash's web site and type in his home address. The address is then automatically sent to your individual Dash, which in turn instantly computes directions.

Dash also integrates web search and other web services. You can look up a wide range of information from movie times to gas prices. You can also look up local services like restaurants or liquor stores. Dash automatically detects the address of the destination in the search results and shows the shortest route. And after the detour it allows you to seamlessly resume your previous travel.

Dash is a navigation device which will be available in January for California and by the end of the year in the rest of the country. You can get more information on the Dash website, at http://www.dash.net.