Pharos Rolls Out Two Budget GPS Navigators - For Under $300

Although it's not nearly as famous as the likes of Garmin, Magellan or TomTom, the Pharos company has released a few interesting GPS navigation systems over time, either in the form of PNDs (personal navigation devices) or of GPS-enabled smartphones. However, the company's latest announcement is related to two devices that can be included in the first category, namely the Pharos Drive GPS 150 and 250 models, which provide basic navigation features at some very affordable price tags.

According to the company, the Drive GPS 250, which is only slightly larger than a pack of playing cards, is focused around its large 4.3-inch touch screen display, which has been optimized for use in daylight and will automatically switch to night view after sun set so drivers always have a clear view of their route. Since this thing has been designed for portability, the highly sensitive SiRF Star III GPS receiver and antenna are embedded into the unit, so it's easy to mount the Drive GPS 250 in a car or slip it in a briefcase for transport. Furthermore, the Drive GPS 250 comes with a rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery that can provide up to seven hours of continuous operation.

Offering the same navigation experience on a smaller, more portable device, the Drive GPS 150 is targeting especially the budget minded customers. Measuring just 3.94 inches in length, the Drive GPS 150 is ideal for journeys in car or on foot, and this is the reason why the navigation software provides a pedestrian mode that plots routes with pedestrian options and preferences in mind.

And since we're on the subject of the navigation software, it's worth mentioning the fact that both the Drive GPS 250 and Drive GPS 150 feature intuitive navigation software, with turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions, its new text-to-speech feature pronouncing the names of the streets along the way. The Drive GPS 250 includes preloaded NAVTEQ maps of the entire United States and Canada and more than 1.2 million points of interest (POI) ranging from hotels and restaurants to WiFi hotspots and ATMs. Both devices ship with everything needed to use the unit, including a power cord, vehicle suction mount, and a one gigabyte SD card loaded with maps.

"The Drive GPS line strikes the perfect balance of power, portability and price," said James Chen, Ph.D, Senior Vice President of Pharos. "In these new models, we've made our navigation software easier to use with features like text to speech, so our customers can keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic and tricky intersections."

The Pharos Drive GPS 150 will be available for around $199.95, while the Drive GPS 250 has a MSRP of 299.95 US dollars, which are some pretty OK price tags, taking into account the features this thing has to offer, compared to other similar devices available on the market.

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