Garmin Announces Entry Level Nuvi 2x5 With Optional Dynamic Content (corrected)

Garmin today at the CeBIT trade show in Germany introduced the next evolution of the nuvi 200 series with the low-priced “nuvi” 2x5 models. This new line of products adds faster satellite acquisition, navigation by photos, FM traffic updates or dynamic content from MSN Direct.

"The nuvi 2x5 products allow us to meet and exceed the basic needs of the budget-minded consumer while giving them further opportunity to expand," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "By making traffic and MSN Direct content accessible with our most basic nuvi models, the choice is truly in the buyer's hands. Pick a price, and there's your nuvi."

GPS chipset by ST Micro and HotFix
ST Micro Cartesio application processor System-on-Chip (SoC) with embedded GPS is powering this new nuvi 2x5 platform. "This adoption of Cartesio by Garmin, a world leader in portable navigation, is a testament to ST's ability to deliver cutting-edge car infotainment solutions that meet automotive quality standards," said Domenico Rossi, General Manager of ST's Car Radio and Multimedia Division.

Additionally, Garmin's new HotFix feature “automatically calculates and stores critical satellite information and can use that information to quickly calculate a position without waiting for data collection from the satellites”, said Garmin.

Photo navigation and MSN Direct
On Garmin's website, “Garmin Connect Photos”, users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google's Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi 2x5 range for to use pictures as a guide, more or less in the same way Navman/Mio has been doing for two years ith their NavPix technology.

With the compatibility of these products to the MSN Direct receiver, U.S. customers will be able to purchase a $124.99 receiver - including one year free service – giving access to traffic conditions, fuel prices, weather reports, movie listings, headline news items, stock listings, local events and custom locations sent directly from Windows Live Local. A RDS-TMC receiver is also available for Traffic information in Europe and North America ($160).

The nuvi 2x5 family offers many different models (205, 205W, 255, 255W, 265, 265W, 275) with 3.5 to 4.3 inches screens and a variety of map data sets. They will be available in the second quarter of this year. The nuvi 2x5 family prices starts at €169, US pricing has not been released yet.