Socket Communications, Inc. is now shipping an enhanced version of its GPS Nav Kit for Pocket PCs, laptops and Tablet PC. The GPS Nav Kit communicates to these devices using Bluetooth wireless technology and includes Socket's MyNavigator software, a compact in-car navigation system that offers street maps, an intuitive user interface and voice prompts. The solution provides turn-by-turn instructions and map support for the United States & Canada and over 14 European countries.
"The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that Americans spend over 500 million hours per week in their cars," said Peter Phillips, vice president of marketing at Socket. "The widespread use of Pocket PCs and other handheld devices has increased the need for consumers to remain connected while behind the wheel. Our improved GPS technology solutions not only improve the efficiency of these connected commuters, but also helps them find particular locations more safely. The enhanced graphics and 3-D maps in the GPS Nav Kit provide detailed, visual location information at-a-glance, while clear voice prompts provide audio feedback."
New MyNavigator software features include:
Allows hotkeys to be assigned to the most popular functions
Ability to select destination by intersection or city center
More than 1.2 million new points of interest and new categories including attractions, businesses/shopping, education/government, emergency, lodging, recreation, restaurants and transportation
Improved optional map views including flat, bird's eye and 3-D
Updated NAVTEQ maps of North America and Europe
Additional hardware features include a new receiver chip-set from u-blox that is capable of receiving 16 GPS channels and processing 8192 simultaneous search bins as well as a removable and replaceable battery. In addition, it includes Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) support for increased location accuracy with the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the U.S. and EGNOS in Europe. The hardware weighs only 71 grams and fits into the palm of your hand without requiring wires or cables.
The GPS Nav Kit is available for an estimated street price of US$249.
