Chapter 7: Garmin’s GPS 10x: Smart Phone Navigation{0}
Garmin came out with a new device that can allow phones like Blackberry, Palm Treo, or any type of window base smart phone to turn into a full featured navigation system for only $200. The size of this device is a small as a MP3 player and weighs only 2 ounces, so it could fit easily in a pocket. The GPS satellite picks up user’s position and then transmitted to the phone by way of a Bluetooth wireless data connection. With the device, the phone becomes a capable navigation system offering a choice of spoken directions or large-type text with direction arrows displayed on the handheld’s screen. Since maps are stored on an SD memory card, the directions keep coming when you cannot get cellular reception, so long as you are still getting a GPS signal. So incase user goes underground or into rural areas, with the device it is still possible to navigate the user’s current position.
I picked this article because it shows how Garmin, a GPS company is following the trend of the market to be at the top of its line. This device will definitely be more affordable than the traditional GPS navigator device that cost around $200 to $500 and it is more convenient to travel with it. Since more and more people are getting smart phones, this device will increase in demand and thus the chance of people buying this device will increase.
Reference:
Arik Hesseldahl. (August 15, 2007) Garmin’s GPS 10x: Smart Phone Navigation. BusinessWeek.
Retrieved from:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2007/tc20070814_733360.htm