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DeLorme Unveils New Earthmate USB GPS With Bluetooth Capabilities

Available at the end of April, the Earthmate GPS receiver, smaller than a business card, is being targetted as an affordable alternative to the more pricey in-car navigation systems that average around $2,000. Of course, DeLorme fails to point out that the more expensive in-car systems generally include additional telemitry capabilities (such as connection to the vehicle's speedometer) that are not possible with stand-alone GPS receivers. The combination of Earthmate GPS and the included DeLorme Street Atlas USA mapping software, connected to a USB laptop PC, enables users to see their exact location on detailed street-level maps, anywhere in U.S. The Earthmate GPS with Street Atlas USA software will sell for only $129.95. The GPS draws power from USB laptops so no batteries are necessary.

Add-on GPS Accessories Make the Earthmate GPS Expandable

The new Earthmate is the first GPS receiver to offer multiple expansion capabilities for extended functionality. This June, DeLorme will offer a rechargeable Bluetooth wireless docking station that attaches to the Earthmate GPS receiver allowing customers to use Bluetooth-enabled PDAs, laptops, and Tablet PCs to wirelessly receive GPS signals in-vehicle. Passengers with a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or PDA sitting in the front or back seat of the car can wirelessly connect to the Earthmate GPS receiver on the dashboard and track their exact position on detailed street-level maps. The Bluetooth docking station, sold together with the Earthmate GPS, will retail for under $300. Unfortunately, DeLorme has not shown the size of this docking station as of press time. BluetoothNews.com will be investigating this further in the next few weeks.

Also available will be a PDA PowerPack that connects to the Earthmate GPS allowing a variety of handheld computers to be used with the GPS. Using DeLorme's XMap^R Handheld software, customers will be able to track their positions in real time using their Pocket PC and Palm OS handheld computer or a Smartphone. With DeLorme Topo USA^R 4.0 software, people can further expand the utility of the Earthmate for off-road in-vehicle and walking applications, essentially turning their PDA into a handheld GPS. This is especially interesting together with the Bluetooth docking station.

According to DeLorme, key features of the new Earthmate GPS receiver include:

The new Earthmate GPS receiver offers the latest WAAS capabilities (Wide Area Augmentation System). Administered by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation, WAAS is a free correction system, currently available only in North America, that receives signals from GPS satellites, corrects the signals for increased accuracy, then transmits the signals to be picked up by WAAS-capable GPS receivers such as Earthmate GPS. WAAS narrows the accuracy of the GPS receiver to within 2-5 meters. Accessing the GPS satellite system and WAAS is free of charge.

“The beauty of our GPS solution is the flexibility it provides. Use it today with your USB laptop. If you don't have a PDA now but are thinking of getting one, you'll be able to use it that way when you are ready. And for those looking for an affordable wireless Bluetooth GPS solution, the docking station further leverages the small initial investment in the Earthmate,$#148; comments David DeLorme, DeLorme's founder and CEO. “Now a family traveling on vacation can keep the kids occupied in the back seat with a wireless PDA, tracking the trip in real time. This device is so advanced it will also be possible for surveyors and land-use professionals to realize sub-meter accuracy using separate GPS post-processing software currently being developed by DeLorme.”

Pricing & Availability

The DeLorme Earthmate GPS receiver will carry a suggested retail price of $129.95 with Street Atlas USA software. The Earthmate GPS will be available late-April at most computer retail stores or directly from DeLorme on its Web site, or from one of its Sales Representatives at 800-561- 5105. The DeLorme Bluetooth docking station will be available in June with a suggested retail price of under $200 (under $300 including the Earthmate GPS).