Michelin Exits the Consumer GPS Market

Michelin Exits the Consumer GPS Market

If I say ‘Michelin’, you think ‘Tires’, right? Well, that resumes why Michelin is exiting the consumer GPS Market. While you might think that this sector is technology-driven, it is not really -'at least, not in the entry-level market. GPS devices have reached the point of being ‘good enough’ and most people couldn’t care less about gimmicks like multimedia features.

However, like any commodity, branding still plays a major role in selling the products (yes, just like soap) and Michelin never built a GPS brand that did resonate with consumers. I guess that the company thought that its foothold on the ‘auto’ market was good enough. It wasn’t.

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

ViaMichelin ships X-970 portable GPS navigator

ViaMichelin ships X-970 portable GPS navigator: "

Remember the cutesy X-970 from way back in March? If not, there's no need to panic, as ViaMichelin is just now getting around to releasing this thing en masse. Available now, the 3.5-inch X-970 features Bluetooth, text-to-speech, real-time traffic capability, a three-watt internal speaker and Michelin Green Guide content, which describes 'thousands of attractions across the US and Canada.' If this sounds like your kind of navigator, you can grab one now for $399. Click on through for a few more looks.

Continue reading ViaMichelin ships X-970 portable GPS navigator

(Via Engadget.)

Michelin's New X-970 GPS Includes Michelin Green Guide Content, Does Traffic

Michelin's New X-970 GPS Includes Michelin Green Guide Content, Does Traffic: "

ViaMichelin's, a subdivision of automotive tire company Michelin, is rolling out their newest navigation unit the X-970.

The major feature that ViaMichelin is pushing is their integration with their exclusive Michelin Green Guide content. X-970 users can go to ViaMichelin.com to plan upcoming trips by dragging and dropping restaurants and other destinations onto your unit. The Michelin Guides are highly regarded in Europe and ViaMichelin is hoping to bring this success to the US.

The new unit will feature the usual text-to-speech, Bluetooth, real-time traffic capability, SD card slot and sports a 3.5' screen.

X-970 is expected to hit retail stores soon with a street price of $349.

(Via GPS Magazine.)

ViaMichelin x970 quick look

ViaMichelin x970 quick look: "

The Michelin Red Book is Europe’s premier restaurant guide. Yes, it’s sponsored by a tire company but its rankings are so highly regarded that an eatery can make or break its reputation based on a star from the guide’s reviewers. It’s big overseas, but not so big over here, which is why ViaMichelin, a GPS device maker and mapping service, has a hard road ahead of them.

The X970 is a twee GPS device that comes with a power cable and base with built-in speaker. It’s fairly basic — program in your destination and go. However, it also includes content from the Michelin Green Guide of famous points of interest and it works with ViaMichelin.com to allow you to drag and drop restaurants and other destinations onto your unit.

(more…)

(Via CrunchGear.)

Acer brings us more Ferrari gadgets: bellissimo Pocket PC

Acer brings us more Ferrari gadgets: bellissimo Pocket PC: "

Acer continues to release products devaluing using the Ferrari brand, with the introduction of a pocket PC with GPS. Nothing particularly special about that, but it does include the latest Navteq maps, something called Powerful Trip Planning which (surprise surprise) will show you ‘Ferrari Points of Interest, like Ferrari dealers and museums.’

Ferrari-tuned specifications:

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity


• 122 grams


• 58 x 108 x 16.8 mm


• 2.8-inch screen


• Touchscreen GPS


• Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 OS includes Pocket Outlook, MSN, Word, Excel and the new Power Point Mobile.


• SirfStarIII LP GPS receiver


• Navteq pre-installed maps (latest 2006 issues)

I though the whole point of a Ferrari was that by the time you knew where you were you had left anyway?

(Via Gadgetell.)

FCC Approves ViaMichelin Navigation X-970 GPS

FCC Approves ViaMichelin Navigation X-970 GPS: "

The ViaMichelin Navigation X-970 mobile GPS device has been approved by the FCC, allowing it to go on sale in the US and elsewhere. The Navigation X-970 has a claimed battery life of about 3 hours and features a hands-free functionality for making calls from your mobile phone which can further reduce the battery life. The device features a touch-screen interface and comes with a cigarette lighter charging cable. The provided SD card comes with maps of the USA and Canada.

Equipped with an SiRF Star III type GPS chip, you can enter your destination for finding the directions or use it in free-flow mode where it simply displays your current position on a map. There's also a My ViaMichelin function that allows you to transfer your favorite addresses, routes and POIs from www.ViaMichelin.com onto your X-970.

Packaging includes a USB cable, ViaMichelin Navigation DVD, two car-mounting systems (windshield or dashboard use) and a manual. No info on the pricing yet.
ViaMichelin

(Via MobileWhack.)