Santa Clara, Calif. — Magellan will find its way over the Rocky Mountains to International CES with four new portable navigation devices (PNDs), including an Android-based model targeted to independent truckers and professional commercial drivers.
The trucker model is the $399-suggested RoadMate RC9485T-LMB, available in the first quarter with extra-loud speaker, external audio/video input for a backup camera, and a large 7-inch capacitive touch panel. It also comes with customizable truck routes based on vehicle profile, multiple driver log-in for recording all driver information, and junction view and highway lane assist to help get drivers through complex highway interchanges. The RC9485T-LMB also comes with free lifetime traffic alerts, lifetime map updates and Bluetooth 4.0.
The trucker PND communicates with Magellan’s SmartGPS Eco Cloud service via Bluetooth-connected smartphone to display real-time fuel pricing information, weather (including five-day forecast and overlays), truck speed-limit warnings, and traffic data.
The RC9485T-LMB is Magellan’s first 7-inch PND with Android OS, joining two 5-inch PNDs launched in 2014.
For people who are driving cars and SUVs, Magellan will launch the $149-suggsted RM5322-LM, $159 RM5330T-LM and $199 RM5375T-LMB, all with 5-inch screens. The devices will be available in March.
The former two offer free real-time traffic alerts, and the 5375T-LMB adds portrait viewing mode and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity.
All are the company’s first PNDs with 3D renderings of select buildings and landmarks to make it easier to identify where drivers are. All also feature lifetime map updates, traffic camera alerts provided by PhantomAlert, 7 million POIs, multi-destination routing, Junction View, SmartDetour and a one-touch favorites menu.
The 5375T-LMB’s portrait viewing mode provides an extended view of the road ahead, joining select other models with the feature.
The trucker PND is a version of a more expensive fleet-ready PND that will be also launched at CES for fleets. It will come with two-way messaging, itinerary updating, multi-destination routing capabilities, hours of service/log book, and automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD).
