An information apparatus comprising: a processing element configured to form a request for data concerning traffic pertaining to an area, and to process responsive data to the request, the responsive data being included in traffic data received from a data provider; an interface device for requesting and receiving map information from digital map storage separate from the data provider; and a display for showing thereon map information received from the digital map storage a location of the apparatus, and traffic information resulting from processing the responsive data, the shown map information including a plurality of waypoints indicating corresponding locations of goods or service providers on a map, the waypoints being selectable by a user in an order, wherein the selected waypoints are processed and reordered to uggest to the user a route to the respective locations of goods or service providers corresponding to the reordered waypoints. view more

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the location of the apparatus is derived from GPS signals received by the apparatus.

The apparatus of claim 1 being electrically connectable to a port in a vehicle.

An apparatus for navigation comprising: a memory for storing data concerning points of interest preferred by a user; a mechanism for allowing user input of at least one geographic area to be avoided; an interface for receiving a request for a route to a destination; a device for collecting information concerning at least one condition affecting travel to the destination; a processor configured to plan the route, taking into account the at least one condition and the at least one geographic area to be avoided; and a display for providing thereon the planned route, and one or more indicators indicating locations of one or more of the preferred points of interest in relation to the planned route. view more

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the user input includes a delineation of the at least one geographic area.

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the delineation is made graphically on the display.

An apparatus for navigation comprising: an interface for receiving user preference information; a device for sensing a location of the navigation apparatus; a processor for searching a database based at least on the user preference information and the sensed location to suggest one or more goods or service providers; and a display for showing thereon a map covering the sensed location and a vicinity thereof, and one or more indicators indicating locations of the one or more suggested goods or service providers on the map, the one or more indicators on the map being selectable to obtain data concerning the one or more suggested goods or service providers. view more

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein identities of the one or more goods or service providers are provided on a list on the display.

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the user preference information is stored in a record associated with a user.

A navigation system, comprising: storage for storing records associated with different points of interest; a device for receiving user preference data; a processor configured to suggest a plurality of points of interest based on the user preference data; a display element for presenting thereon the plurality of points of interest, a user being allowed to select one of the plurality of points of interest; a mechanism for retrieving a record associated with a user selected point of interest, the record containing at least connection data; and an interface for allowing a user entry to cause a lookup of the connection data in the record to establish a communications connection with the selected point of interest using the connection data. view more

The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to plan a route to a desired destination, and the plurality of points of interest are suggested based on locations thereof in relation to the planned route.

The system of claim 10, wherein the interface includes an audio input.