Garmin and Palm unite for navigation

Garmin launched a premium GPS system today for Palm OS PDAs and Bluetooth Smartphones. All of the Palm sites have become very excited by this as the GPS package includes not only Garmin’s proven navigation software and GPS 10 receiver, but it is said to integrate smoothly with Palm’s existing software.

Garmin’s Vice President of Marketing, Gary Kelley says that by adding their GPS navigation to Palm’s “robust and feature-rich applications” will greatly expand Palm OS products’ functionality. The new GPS system will give Palm customers a “cost-effective way to integrate turn-by-turn navigation” with the devices they are already familiar with.

The package includes Garmin’s “GPS 10” Bluetooth receiver with their Que navigation software, which will allow Palm OS users to look up addresses, restaurants, hotels and other POIs. Smartphone users will even be able to call their destination using the POI contact database. The receiver is known for its steady reception, and can transmit bluetooth data up to 30 feet. It’s waterproof, compact and easy to mount.

As usual the whole package will be available in the US first, with full NAVTEQ maps of America, Canada and Puerto Rico, but we can expect a UK version soon.