GPS Navigation Systems

From the August 2007 Issue

Valuable business technologies are often overlooked as expensive “toys” when they first debut, only to grow to become indispensable in later years. The telephone was one such technology — Alexander Graham Bell could not believe any individual or business person would want to own one. The Internet, a goofy military/academic experiment, is another such technology.

And then there is GPS navigation.

Once perceived as an expensive toy for geeks, GPS systems are becoming a critical way for business executives to navigate to client locations, business meetings and other events. GPS is a satellite navigation system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense for navigation, surveying and map-making. The first experimental satellite was launched in 1978, and the system today has more than two dozen satellites in medium orbits around the globe. In the past few years, civilian GPS receivers have become the rage, and are used extensively by accountants and others who do a lot of work on the road.

There are three basic types of systems from which to choose:

• A navigation system built into a vehicle. Marketed by a number of electronics companies, these in-dash systems are typically mated to each specific vehicle model (or at the least, the size of the opening in the dash) and may also include radio receivers, satellite radio receivers and the capability to play DVDs. Prices vary from $900 to $3,500, depending on the model and whether the unit is factory-installed. Screen size varies from 5-inch to 8-inch.
• Stand-alone units. These are typically less costly, in the $300 to $700 range, but perform only the navigation function and offer a smaller screen. These are either mounted in the vehicle using a third-party mounting system or sit on the dash. These systems, while more economical, rely on a cigarette-lighter plug-in for power unlike the built-in systems.
• The cell phone/PDA. The current generation of Pocket PC, PDA and Smartphone devices offer GPS navigation capabilities, either sold through the cellular service company or as an add-on. This is the least expensive GPS system, but it also has the smallest screen size.

  All of the systems work well, but each has its own quirks. All, for example, must use a GPS receiver to feed information into some type of computing and display device. The cell phone/PDA units can draw a lot of power, creating issues for already under-powered phones. And none of the navigation maps are perfect. In testing dozens of units, we found map software that would gleefully command the driver through the middle of a house or into a corn field. Still, these are massively valuable units. From finding the nearest office supply store to navigating across the country, they perform well.

For those interested in buying a unit, here are five tips to consider: