|
(BW)(CA-MARCOSOFT) Navicom and MarcoSoft Unveil the New Quo Vadis
HandyGPS Receiver for the Handspring Visor at Internet World '99.
MENLO PARK, Calif. and SEOUL, Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Oct. 6,
1999--Navicom Co., Ltd. and MarcoSoft, Inc. today unveiled their
new GPS receiver for the Handspring™ Visor™ at Internet World
'99 in New York. The Quo Vadis™ HandyGPS™ is the first Handspring
Springboard™ expansion module to incorporate the functions of
a GPS receiver in addition to a street-level mapping system. Jointly
developed, it is built upon Navicom's GPCore™34 GPS receiver circuit
board, and MarcoSoft's Quo Vadis street-level moving-map software
for the Palm Computing® platform. The module is meant to work
with any devices that support the Springboard expansion interface
such as the Visor expandable handheld computers.
"With MarcoSoft's proven mapping software and Navicom's innovative
GPS technologies, we think the Quo Vadis HandyGPS module will
be a reliable and robust solution for our Springboard platform,"
said Ed Colligan, vice president of development and marketing
for Handspring, Inc. "Global positioning system solutions have
taken off quickly in the handheld market. We're glad to have both
companies working with us to help add this important functionality
to our new Visor family."
Once inserted into a Visor, the module automatically begins tracking
satellites in order to acquire a position fix. The integrated
software displays incoming GPS information such as latitude, longitude,
altitude, speed, heading and more. Individual satellite data such
as channel, PRN, azimuth, elevation and signal-to-noise ratio
can be viewed and plotted on a standard sky chart.
"The Quo Vadis HandyGPS is the first all-in-one product which
puts a GPS receiver, GPS antenna, antenna cable, and data cable
in one case. With the Quo Vadis HandyGPS, many personal tracking
applications can be promoted," says Sang Moon Lee, president of
Navicom.
The module also doubles as a powerful street-level mapping system.
Multiple interconnecting maps can be loaded, zoomed, searched
for streets, intersections, and landmarks. Thanks to the module's
GPS functionality, users can see their present location on the
maps as well as having the maps scroll automatically as they travel.
"The combination of the Visor and the Quo Vadis HandyGPS module
is a low-cost, flexibile alternative to conventional GPS receivers
which often require expensive map cartridges in order to have
metropolitan street-level detail, and also don't double as handheld
organizers," says Tino Frigino, MarcoSoft's V.P. of Marketing
& Sales.
Two AAA batteries are required to operate the module. An adjustable
update interval rate is provided to let users balance battery
life versus position updating depending on usage needs such as
walking versus driving. Additionally, the module contains a flash
ROM, so users will be able to update the integrated software as
new features are added or improved and not worry about their investment
becoming outdated or obsolete.
The Quo Vadis HandyGPS is due to begin shipping by the end of
November. Pricing has not yet been set, but is expected to be
in line with that of other similar GPS receiver and mapping software
combinations available today.
About Navicom
Navicom Co., Ltd. is the leading provider of GPS technologies
and GPS related applications in Korea. Since its foundation in
1996, it has devoted itself continuously to develop numerous applications
and opportunities involving GPS receiver technology, with the
motto of 'Providing total solutions for GPS & telecommunications'.
Navicom's web site is located at http://www.navicom.co.kr.
About MarcoSoft
MarcoSoft, Inc. is a leading developer of handheld mapping and
GPS software. Established in 1997, the company's current focus
is on creating new exciting applications that drive handheld technology
in GPS, mapping, GSM and other wireless communications. MarcoSoft's
web site is located at http://www.marcosoft.com.
HandyGPS
and GPCore are trademarks of Navicom, Inc. Handspring, Springboard
and Visor are trademarks of Handspring, Inc., and may be registered
in some jurisdictions. Palm Computing is a registered trademark
of Palm Computing, Inc., 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Other product and brand names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
| CONTACT: |
MarcoSoft, Inc.
Tino Frigino
650/326-4727
tino@marcosoft.com |
or |
Navicom Co., Ltd.
Scott Kang
(82-2) 558-5570
handy@navicom.co.kr |
|
