CeBIT 2008: Magellan Brings Forth Bevy of GPS Navigators

Among the first booths we've visited at CeBIT was that of Magellan, one of the world's fastest developing manufacturers of various GPS-navigation related devices. And, sure enough, the company's got quite a lot novelties ready for CeBIT as well, most of them being related to the European market (which, by the way, provides the best sales for the Magellan, although the market share is significantly greater in the US).

The RoadMate 1400 series of global positioning devices is the newest entry in the RoadMate family, one of the most attractive series on the market. The Magellan RoadMate devices are targeted at drivers that are relatively new to machine-assisted driving, as well as for those drivers that would feel safer with a second device aboard.

The 1400 series devices also come at a reasonable price situated as low as €179. The device comes with a widescreen 4.3-inch anti-glare touch screen display with an extremely intuitive interface, powered by the QuickSpell and SmartDetour technologies (the latter prompts drivers to route around heavy or stationary traffic).

Another addition to the RoadMate series is the 1415 model, that includes a text-to-speech engine to announce drivers the street they are driving on, as well as the direction of the next turn. The device is pre-loaded with NAVTEQ full European map coverage, with many helpful locations, such as hotels, gas stations, restaurants and airports. However, the additional features come with a little premium: the device can be purchased for €229.00.

The RoadMate 1425 is the latest of the the top three best-selling global positioning devices. It can offer information regarding the live traffic. The device's price covers a premium lifetime traffic subscription, that delivers accurate information regarding incidents along the pre-set route. More than that, the RoadMate can suggest more efficient routes when the user activates the "fastest time" option. The traffic status allows the GPS device to estimate the arrival time, and as a bonus, you get one million searchable points of interest already stored in RoadMate's memory. The RoadMate 1425 comes with an estimative price tag of €279.00.

The manufacturer has also introduced a totally new RoadMate model, the 1217, that has been premiered at the event. The device has text-to-speech features that announces the driver both the street name and the direction of the next turn. Just like the previous model, the GPS lets the user search a location in its one-million point-of-interest database, but it also provides extended information, such as phone number, address and the travel distance. The device can be purchased for an estimative retail price of €179.00.

The Maestro 4245 is the real GPS killer, the most advanced device in the entire series of products showcased at Magellan's booth. The device packs all the features that will ensure the driver a smooth and easy way across Europe. It comes with complete voice command and control, which means that you won't have to lift a finger off the steering wheel while having full control over the device.



Live report by Bogdan Popa and Alex Vochin from CeBIT 2008 Hannover, Germany.