Microsoft Corp. and Pharos Science & Applications Inc. have unveiled a sleek new GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver that will ship as part of Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator, which is also being launched.
Supplied by Pharos, the new SiRFstarIII GPS locator is more than 10 times more sensitive than the previous version. This improves the real-time navigation experience for Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator customers whether they’re in the city or mountains.
To use the new GPS locator, consumers can simply plug it into a notebook PC’s USB port to view maps and travel routes in real time, so they always know where they are no matter where their travels take them. To use the GPS locator wirelessly, consumers can purchase a Bluetooth dock or CompactFlash card adaptor directly from Pharos.
New in this software version is the integration with Live Search, helping consumers find current business listings online that can easily be saved to their Streets & Trips maps. Keyword searching helps users quickly find listings near their location by entering words such as “coffee” or “restaurant”; search results automatically refresh as users move around the map, so they always have the most relevant information corresponding to their current location.
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator is available for an estimated retail price of US$129 in the U.S. The Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 Standard is available for an estimated retail price of US$39.95.