United Navigation GmbH

United Navigation GmbH was a German company that developed and marketed mobile navigation devices under the Becker and Falk brand names. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of the MairDumont Group and was headquartered in Ostfildern near Stuttgart. The company's roots trace back to the Falk-Verlag, which began producing patented folded Falk city maps in 1948. After the publishing house was sold first to Bertelsmann and later to Mairs Geographischer Verlag, the business expanded into data for mobile navigation devices. In 2003, this division was merged with Marco Polo New Media to form Falk Marcopolo Interactive GmbH, which from 2009 operated under the name Falk Navigation. After acquiring the brand rights for Becker navigation devices in 2010, the company was renamed United Navigation. At its peak, United Navigation was one of the three largest providers of mobile navigation devices (under the Becker and Falk brands) and the second-largest manufacturer of outdoor navigation devices after Garmin. However, the company faced financial difficulties. After an unsuccessful self-administration proceeding, it became insolvent on 1 April 2017. Free map updates were discontinued from March 2018. The official website domain fm-i.de is now for sale, indicating the brand is no longer active.

The history of United Navigation GmbH is closely tied to the Falk-Verlag and the MairDumont Group. In 1948, Falk-Verlag began producing patented folded Falk city maps, which became a well-known product in Germany. Over time, the publishing house was sold, first to Bertelsmann and then to Mairs Geographischer Verlag. Under the latter, the company started distributing data for mobile navigation devices. In 2003, this navigation division was merged with Marco Polo New Media to create Falk Marcopolo Interactive GmbH. From 2009, the navigation business operated under the name Falk Navigation. In 2010, the company acquired the brand rights for Becker navigation devices, and subsequently changed its name to United Navigation. As United Navigation, it marketed devices under both the Becker and Falk brands. At its peak, it was one of the three largest providers of mobile navigation devices and the second-largest manufacturer of outdoor navigation devices after Garmin. However, the company encountered financial difficulties. After an unsuccessful self-administration proceeding, it filed for insolvency on 1 April 2017. Free map updates were discontinued from March 2018. The official website domain fm-i.de is now listed for sale, indicating the brand is defunct.

• 2018

  Free map updates discontinued from March.

• 2017

  Files for insolvency on 1 April after unsuccessful self-administration.

• 2010

  Acquires brand rights for Becker navigation devices and renames to United Navigation.

• 2009

  Navigation business operates under the name Falk Navigation.

• 2003

  Navigation division merged with Marco Polo New Media to form Falk Marcopolo Interactive GmbH.

• 1948

  Falk-Verlag begins producing patented folded Falk city maps.

One of the top three mobile navigation providers and second-largest outdoor navigation manufacturer in Germany during its active years.

• Becker navigation devices

• Falk navigation devices

• Outdoor navigation devices

1. 1United Navigation - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2United Navigation GmbH - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Official website (domain for sale)fm-i.de