Garmin’s IQue Pocket PC | Digital Trends

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today at the International Consumer Electronics Show introduced the iQue M5, the company’s first Microsoft(R) Windows Mobile(TM)-based Pocket PC enabled with GPS and Bluetooth(R) wireless technology. The iQue M5 features Garmin’s integrated suite of Que(TM) mapping and navigation applications that use satellite technology to give consumers a sense of direction.

“Ideal for mobile professionals, the iQue M5 delivers the robust features of an in-car navigation system with the portable convenience of a powerful and lightweight Pocket PC,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s director of marketing. “The combination of Pocket PC software, location technology and Bluetooth connectivity on the iQue M5 gives users the flexibility with a single device to stay on task and on course in their workaday world.”

“We are excited to be working with Garmin to bring their location and mapping expertise to the Windows Mobile platform,” said Scott Horn, senior director of marketing for Microsoft’s Mobile Embedded Device division. “Garmin is broadening the Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC experience by integrating GPS and navigation tools into the iQue M5. It will give customers access to their essential information, with the freedom to roam and bring their digital life wherever their busy life takes them.”

The iQue M5 features Microsoft’s latest Pocket PC software, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, which supports portrait/landscape screen orientation for easy viewing of documents, videos and Web content. The device is powered by a 416-MHz Intel(R) PXA 272 microprocessor. The iQue M5 provides the user with 64MB of RAM, 64MB of ROM and data back-up protection. The embedded Bluetooth transceiver allows the user to establish a personal-area network with computer systems and Bluetooth-enabled devices such as mobile phones, other PDAs and printers.

Featuring a built-in basemap of North and South America, the iQue M5 shows major highways, thoroughfares, railways, lakes, rivers and borders. Garmin includes its MapSource(R) City Select(R) CD as a standard accessory, so users can download detailed street-level map data, look up more than five million points of interest (POIs), and navigate to an address in the U.S. and Canada. World travelers can also add a European or Pacific Rim basemap from the installation CD. International versions of the iQue M5 will feature respective basemaps, mapping software and language support.

The integrated Que applications enable consumers to see where they are on an electronic map, look up a point of interest and route to it — following voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions to their selected destination. If they miss a turn, the iQue M5 automatically recalculates a new route to get them back on track. Advanced routing features include the ability to specify roadways to avoid and find POIs near the current route. The iQue M5 even offers intuitive POI searches that are based on user habits. Another distinct benefit of Garmin’s PDA/GPS integration is the patent-pending capability to attach a “location stamp” to a profile in the user’s contact database or appointment calendar and navigate directly to these important business addresses.

The GPS antenna on the iQue M5 folds flush with the back of the unit. The result of this unique design is an aesthetically pleasing look and feel. 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 M5:

— Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software
— Computing Software: Microsoft Pocket Outlook(R), Internet Explorer,
Word and Excel; Windows Media(R) Player, MSN(R) Messenger Service,
Calculator and ActiveSync(R); Sprite Backup; and BTExplorer
— Processor: 416-MHz Intel(R) PXA 272
— Unit size/weight: 5.0″ x 2.8″ x 0.74″/ 5.2 oz.
— Screen dimensions: 3.5″ diagonal
— Display: 240×320-pixel, transflective TFT with 16-bit color display;
64K colors; bright white LED backlight
— Internal Memory: 64 MB ROM; 64 MB RAM
— Battery: 1,250-mAh replaceable lithium-polymer battery delivering
5-7 hours of continuous PDA/GPS use
— Audio hardware: Microphone, speaker, headphone jack
— Expansion: Secure Digital slot with SDIO compatibility
— Networking: Bluetooth, IrDA, SDIO, USB

The iQue M5 is expected to be available in January 2005 at a suggested retail price of $749.99. The standard package includes a USB synchronization cradle, AC wall charger, automotive mount with an integrated speaker and 12- volt adapter, protective flip cover, stylus, MapSource City Select CD, companion CD with owner’s manual, and quick-reference guide.

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