Ekkie Tepsupornchai
08-18-2006, 07:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.canalys.com/pr/2006/r2006081.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.canalys.com/pr/2006/r2006081.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"New GPS navigation device market research from Canalys shows that sustained growth has taken shipments in the latest quarter above even the boom level seen in Q4 2005, which made a big difference to the year-end performance of many retailers. Canalys estimates that just under 2.5 million devices shipped in Q2 2006, beating the previous quarterly record of 2.3 million. The Canalys figures include all mobile devices that have integrated GPS receivers and provide turn-by-turn vehicle navigation, including handhelds, such as the Mio P550, wireless handhelds like the HP hw6915, and transferables (or 'PNDs': Portable Navigation Devices), for example the TomTom GO and Garmin nüvi ranges."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ekkie_gps_sales_figures_200608.gif" /><br /><br />While these figures were compiled for Europe/Middle East only, would it really surprise any of us to see anything markedly different in the US? Nearly everyone I encounter recognize what GPS is and most everyone have had some exerience with it either directly or indirectly. While it once could only be consumed as either a standalone or "add-on" unit, it's now tightly integrated with commonly-used electronic items. Higher-end vehicles are all sold with GPS options; more and more consumer cellphones are getting marketed with GPS capabilities; GPS has been credited with keeping the PDA market afloat; even runners and cyclists are increasingly flocking to GPS technologies for performance and route tracking. In terms of the actual vendors involved, there's no doubt that Garmin and TomTom are easily the two most recognizable GPS brands here in the US. What are your thoughts?