March 15, 2007

Garmin and GPSBuddy - Workforce Management

Garmin announced that Garmin Mobile XT can now be paired with GPS Buddy on virtually any GPS handset or Bluetooth wireless-enabled smartphone -- providing complete mobile resource management that is designed to enhance the productivity of a workforce. This underlines the surge into Mobile Phone and/or location based services that is happening around us now.

"Paired with GPS Buddy, Garmin Mobile XT gives companies the tools they need to ensure their business runs smoothly," said Roger Jollis, Garmin's director of OEM and mobile marketing. "And since many mobile workforces already own smartphones, incorporating Garmin Mobile XT and GPS Buddy is a cost-effective solution as well."

Paired with Garmin Mobile XT, GPS Buddy gives a company the capability to monitor its workforce in real time and communicate with mobile workers via any applicable smartphone -- directly over the handset's wireless provider. If the office needs to direct an employee to a new location, they can receive turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions to the new destination on their smartphone. Initially, this solution will be available on smartphones operating with Microsoft Windows Mobile platforms but will be available on select Symbian and Palm OS handsets later in the year.

"All our software and web services for extensive fleet management solutions are already available in twelve languages," said Thomas Verhuyck, GPS Buddy's director of localization services. "More languages will be added, so that our very affordable solutions will be available in more and more countries."

Garmin Mobile XT maps are pre-programmed on a memory card that is inserted into a smartphone, giving the handset powerful features and Garmin's intuitive interface. Workers can use their smartphone's internal GPS receiver or purchase a GPS receiver like Garmin's GPS 10x(TM), a compact GPS receiver that uses Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

Garmin Mobile XT allows the user to look up millions of points of interest such as restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and gas stations. After entering a destination, the device will automatically provide voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions to a destination. Depending on service availability in a particular area, users can also access traffic
information, fuel prices, weather conditions and forecasts, and other location-based services directly on their mobile phone.