smart Gets Smart Navigation With Garmin GPS
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HANNOVER, Germany - March 9, 2006: Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. , today announced that smart, the iconic automotive brand of DaimlerChrysler, will begin offering the smart portable navigator: a Garmin GPS designed for the cockpit of smart's fortwo and forfour models. The smart portable navigator is a derivative of Garmin's newly announced StreetPilot c500 series.
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"smart cars and Garmin units are a great match because both companies strive to offer customers products with innovative designs, advanced technologies and powerful performance," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's vice president of marketing. "We are delighted to work with smart, and are certain that our in-car navigation system will make driving even more fun for smart owners."
Mounted in a custom cradle that complements smart's sleek and innovative cockpit design, the smart portable navigator provides in-car navigation with automatic route calculation to any destination. The directions may be viewed with a three-dimensional navigation view or a "bird's eye" overhead view. The unit offers voice-prompted directions so that drivers are able to keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic. If a driver misses their turn, the smart portable navigator will automatically calculate a new route and get the driver back on track.
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The smart portable navigator includes a large preloaded points of interest (POIs) database that makes it easy for users to find and route to destinations such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, and attractions. Custom POIs may also be loaded on the unit.
It is equipped with a new high-sensitivity GPS receiver, which acquires a GPS signal quickly and is capable of maintaining a signal in heavy foliage or "urban canyons" created by city skyscrapers. It also features a brighter, sunlight readable touchscreen display.
The smart portable navigator will be available on smart models fortwo and forfour beginning in the summer of 2006.
Garmin International Inc. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. group of companies, which designs and manufactures navigation, communication and information devices -- most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin is a leader in the general aviation and consumer GPS markets and its products serve aviation, marine, outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.