Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Introducing the Garmin® iQue® M3: Navigation at Your Fingertips
OLATHE, Kan., July 15 -- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), today introduced the iQue M3, a user- friendly automotive GPS navigator in a sleek, lightweight Pocket PC design. The attractively priced iQue M3 features larger, intuitive icons that makes it easier for consumers to select navigation applications using their index finger, rather than a stylus.
"The iQue M3 is designed first and foremost to be an easy-to-use automotive GPS navigator, yet it maintains the integrity of the Pocket PC applications found in traditional PDAs," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "No other unit on today's market combines straightforward in- car navigation with Pocket PC applications like the iQue M3. This powerful time-saving tool is ideal for anyone who wants to simplify their life with one integrated device that can carry them from their automobile, home or office."
The iQue M3 features Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 Professional Edition software package, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, which supports portrait/landscape screen orientation for easy viewing of multimedia content. Incorporating Garmin's proven, easy-to-use c-series automotive navigation software, the iQue M3 provides premium in-car navigation capability with automatic route calculation to any destination. The intuitive, point-screen interface requires little input from the user and results in the consumer's ability to see where they are on an electronic map, look up an address or point of interest and route to it. An integrated speaker gives voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions to your destination.
Users are also able to choose between a three-dimensional navigation view, or the more traditional "bird's eye" overhead view. The 3D navigation perspective lets drivers see an uncluttered view of what's down the road.
A built-in basemap of North and South America shows major highways, thoroughfares, railways, lakes, rivers and borders. Garmin includes its MapSource® City Select® CD as a standard accessory, so users can download detailed street-level map data, look up nearly six million points of interest (POIs), and navigate to addresses throughout the U.S. and Canada. World travelers can also add a European or Pacific Rim basemap from the installation CD and purchase detailed maps separately.
The GPS antenna on the iQue M3 folds flush with the back of the unit. Garmin has patented the unit's special antenna release switch that simultaneously powers up the device, initiates the satellite-acquisition sequence and defaults to the QueMap(TM)interface. Once the antenna switch is triggered, the device prepares to navigate. The antenna can also be adjusted for optimal GPS signal reception.
Other specifications of the iQue M3: o Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition softwareo Computing Software: Microsoft Pocket Outlook®, Internet Explorer, Word and Excel; Windows Media® Player, MSN® Messenger Service, Calculator and ActiveSync®o Processor: 312-MHz Intel® PXA 271o Unit size/weight: 5.0" x 2.8" x 0.74"/ 5.9 oz.o Screen dimensions: 3.5" diagonalo Display: 240x320-pixel, transflective TFT with 16-bit color display; 64K colors; bright white LED backlighto Internal Memory: 32 MB ROM; 64 MB RAMo Battery: 1,250-mAh replaceable lithium-polymer battery delivering 5-7 hours of continuous PDA/GPS useo Audio hardware: Microphone, speaker, headphone jacko Expansion: Secure Digital slot with SDIO compatibilityo Networking: IrDA, SDIO, USB
The iQue M3 is expected to be available in July 2005 at an estimated retail price of $499. The standard package includes a USB synchronization cradle, AC wall charger, MapSource City Select CD or DVD (US only), companion CD or DVD (US only) with owner's manual, and quick-reference guide.
Garmin International Inc. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) 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. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin, iQue, MapSource and City Select are registered trademarks, and Que, QueMap and M3 are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Anticipated product availability dates are based on management's current expectations and are not guaranteed.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Source: Garmin International Inc.
CONTACT: Ted Gartner or Jessica Myers, +1-913/397-8200,media.relations@garmin.com, both of Garmin International Inc.
Web site: www.garmin.com
