Netropa Intros Two New Intellinav GPS Units

The Intellinav 2 and 3 systems combine portability with new convenience features designed to make the GPS units indispensable.

Netropa has introduced its new Intellinav 2 and Intellinav 3 portable GPS systems, the first pair in a four-product lineup the designed as follow-ups to the company’s All-in-One GPS introduced in 2006. The Intellinav 2 and 3 are designd to appeal to consumers and everyday GPS users with a slim, highly portable design and convenience features designed to make the systems an integral part of everyday life.

"Consumers who are just discovering the on-road benefits of GPS navigation want the most features at the best value," explained Michael Shiao, president of Netropa Corporation. "With the new Intellinav 2 and 3, we are meeting the needs of the value-conscious consumer through unique features that set Intellinav apart from the competition."

The Intellinav 2 and 3 run Windows CE 5.0, feature SiRF STar II GPS receivers, a 3.5-inch 320 by 240 pixel LCD touchscreen interface, and SD/MMC memory cart expansion sloot, and up to three hours of battery life on the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. The units measure 4 inches wide, 3.2 inches high, and 0.8 inches deep. Each are capable of displaying 2D and 3D views of map data, offer text-to-speech technology for street-name pronunciations, and can alter routes based on detours and instructions to avoid specific roads. The overall interface handles six spoken languages (English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese), offers an itinerary and trip computer, and (naturally) enables users to view photos or play back MP3 music using the internal 1 watt speaker or headphones.

The Intellinav 2 offers Navteq map data (and 1.2 million points of interest) for the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. IntelliNav 3 adds Navteq map data for Canada, includes over 6 million entries in its point-of-interest database, and comes with its own 2 GB SD card. Perhaps more significant, however, are the Intellinav 3’s safety features and special capabilities, including a Car Locator, a Pedestrian Mode for when you have to walk to your destination rather than drive (nothing’s less fun than trying to cross an interstate on foot!), Traffic Pattern, and calculation of arrival and departure times forecasts based on traffic. The Intellinav 3 safety options include a Fog Assist feature, a fatigue alarm, a speed alert, and a school zone alert.

Both units will be available through online and brick-and-mortar retailers; the Intellinav 2 carries a suggested price of $279.99, while the Intellinav 3 will go for $329.99.

Still coming from Netropa: the Intellinav 4 and 5, which will offer 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen displays.