TeleNav the Wireless GPS Company Aims Shotgun at the PND market
By Azam on November 10, 2008
TeleNav, the company well known for GPS navigation software for cell phones and other mobile devices, enters the competitive GPS hardware market with launch of the PND TeleNav Shotgun. The personal navigation device costs $299 and offers optional monthly service via cellular-based Internet service for updates points-of-interest database, provide real-time traffic and fuel-price data, and enable destination entry via TeleNav’s Web site and browser plug-ins.
TeleNav is developing the service on top of the company’s experience with GPS phones; the Shotgun comes with a preinstalled SIM card and three free months of TeleNav Connected Service. After the free trial, TeleNav Connected Service will cost similar amount as competing Dash Service (TeleNav is charging $10-$12 a month, depending on whether you pay as you go or are willing to pre-pay.
The device is based on Windows Mobile, but does not use any Windows Mobile sync features. However subscribers to the service can use free plug-ins for Firefox, Internet Explorer and the Google Toolbar to easily send addresses on Web pages to the device.
The device is best compared to the Dash Device that recently announced discontinuing manufacture of the PND device. The Dash is the only other GPS navigation device to date with built-in cellular connectivity for frequent updating and connecting. The Dash is more feture rich and dynamic that the shotgun with ability to connect onto the net to visit websites of interests (yahoo, google, and any other site of interest) and API for developers for customizable integration of location based applications.
The Shotgun’s compact form factor (it weighs only a little more than four ounces, is only three quarters of an inch thick, and has a 4.3-inch LCD display). The form factor of the device may have a larger appeal towards business travelers.
See Video Below for the Shotgun Device by TeleNav
Categories : Tech, WirelessTags : Dash, Garmin, Google, GPS, GPS Phones, Location Based Technology, Personal Navigation Device, PND, TeleNav, TomTom, yahoo