Pharos Announces Price Reduction on Popular GPS Navigator Products for Palm and Pocket PC PDAs
TORRANCE, Calif.--Feb. 20, 2002--Pharos Science and Applications Inc., the leader in advanced, affordable navigation solutions for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), has reduced the retail price of its popular StreetNav and Pocket GPS Navigator vehicle navigation kits. Effective February 14, 2002, consumers can equip their Pocket PC, Palm and Handspring PDAs with full GPS navigation and routing capability, electronic maps and a database containing tens of thousands of point-of-interest locations -- an all-in-one solution -- for under $200.
Around town or around the country, the Pharos GPS utility for PDAs lets consumers locate their current position, find a destination or point of interest (museums, shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, emergency services, etc.), calculate and view a route, and navigate point-to-point.
"With features like turn-by-turn voice prompts, detailed street maps, automatic `off route' audio warning, and simple one-button re-routing, Pharos' GPS navigators enable PDAs to function just as the expensive built-in car navigation systems do -- at a fraction of the cost," said Spencer Lee, Vice President of Sales for Pharos. "And now, at less than $200, the Pharos StreetNav and Pocket GPS Navigator are an even greater value. There's no reason to be lost, ever again."
The StreetNav and Pocket GPS Navigator both use the Pharos-designed "smart antenna" combining the GPS computational chip and radio signal antenna in a single matchbook-sized unit -- the smallest, most accurate and fastest GPS receiver ever built for the handheld computing platform. The integrated systems also come equipped with Pharos' proprietary Ostia navigation software, industry-leading Tele Atlas electronic map data (the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate map data compiled), and all the necessary cables and brackets for operating the PDA in a vehicle.
"The PDA market is expected to grow 19% in 2002, with nearly 15 million new PDAs in use by end of this year," Lee said. "That's a phenomenal growth rate, due in large part to the ever-expanding uses for these powerful handheld computers, such as vehicle navigation. And we believe that with this price reduction, an even greater number of PDA owners will find their way with Pharos."
The company's products are sold through a network of leading consumer electronics retailers, including CompUSA, Office Depot, PC Mall, Comark, RCS Computer Experience, CDW Computer Centers, MobilePlanet, and other national retail locations and online stores.
About Pharos
Named for the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the ancient world's seven wonders, Pharos Science and Applications, Inc. was formed in 1998 to develop advanced navigation, positioning and telematics solutions for consumers and commercial customers on the go. The company's first navigation product for Pocket PCs earned the esteemed "Product of the Congress" award at the 1999 World Intelligent Transportation Systems Congress in Toronto, quickly establishing Pharos as the leading creator of complete, yet affordable, navigation solutions for the personal computing market. In February 2002, Pharos was named to Microsoft Corporation's prestigious Mobility Partner Advisory Council, whose members are working together to develop innovative mobile technology solutions for work and play. Based in Torrance, CA, the company's renowned team of scientists and engineers continues to discover and define new means to help people increase their mobility, drive more efficiently, and enhance their travel safety. Helping people find their way, Pharos Inc. is "The Lighthouse of the 21st Century." For more information, visit www.pharosgps.com.
Note to Editors: Pocket GPS Navigator, StreetNav and Ostia are registered trademarks of Pharos. All other trademarks are property of their registered owners.