Navigon Offers 'Smart’ PNDs With Best Routes

By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 3/9/2009

Chicago — Navigon introduced several portable GPS units that are among the first “intelligent” personal navigation devices (PNDs) that can determine the best route based on a user’s usual speed and driving habits.

The devices, after eight hours of use, begin to store information on how fast a driver proceeds on side roads and highways and factors that into route choices for the fastest or best route.

The new MyRoutes feature is available on a new 4300T Max at a $279 suggested retail and a 7300T ($399), both with free lifetime traffic for the life of the product. It is also on the 3300 Max ($199).

In another new feature, Navigon’s traffic reports are now delivered audibly where they were previously offered only as onscreen alerts.

The 4300T Max has a 4.3-inch screen, text-to-speech pronunciation of street names and Bluetooth. The unit also includes Rand McNally scenic other routes, and offers advanced views of highway lanes and signage.

The similar 3300 Max also has a 4.3-inch screen and text-to-speech, but traffic is offered as optional and it does not include Bluetooth or Rand McNally information.

The 7300T includes voice command that now can control the audio volume, hands-free calling and some menu choices, plus address input. Navigon’s 2008 voice commands applied only to address input.

The 7300T, with 4.3-inch screen, is the company’s first PND to incorporate both panoramic views of roadside hills and mountains and landmark views of certain buildings and monuments, combined in one unit.

It also offers Bluetooth, text-to-speech and Rand McNally scenic routes.

All are slated for shipping in the second quarter.

Garmin Predicts Flat PND Sales For 2009

By Amy Gilroy

Olathe, Kan. — Garmin expects flat unit sales of personal navigation devices (PNDs) in 2009 with a decline in average selling prices for the category of less than 20 percent.

President/COO Cliff Pemble cautioned that 2009 will be a “difficult year,” but the company noted that big-box retailers are now beginning to place larger orders, having sold through excess inventory from last Christmas.

On a conference call with analysts, Garmin said it is happy with the shelf placement that PNDs will receive in retailer spring resets.

The company mapped out a PND strategy for the year that includes maintaining its market share in North America of about 50 percent and growing its share in overseas markets such as Asia.

During the fourth quarter, ended Dec. 27, 2008, Garmin said it wrote off $14 million due to Circuit City’s bankruptcy. It also said its Garmin-Asus Nuvifone, slated for release in the first half, is in the final phases of market entry. It expects that retailers will merchandise the Nuvifone with PNDs and also with phones.

Garmin said as more competitors are expected to exit the PND market this year, it believes declines in the average selling price of PNDs will moderate. But it noted that sales are now heavily skewed to the low end by a ratio of 85-to-15, with low-end PNDs defined as anything below a Nuvi 500-series model.