Magellan Reinvents Handheld GPS With New Triton Handheld Series Featuring Industry-First National Geographic Alliance
New Design and Unparalleled, Simple User Interface Make Handheld GPS Accessible to Anyone Who Wants to Navigate Outdoors
Santa
Clara, Calif. (August 7, 2007) Magellan, a leading global
innovator of outdoor and vehicle navigation solutions, announced
today the introduction of its new Triton series of portable handheld
GPS receivers that provide outdoor enthusiasts with the most
advanced design and navigation experience available.
The
Triton series of six new units is the first line of rugged, handheld
navigation devices designed with a new user interface flow and
screen graphics making Triton easier to use and more accessible to a
greater population of outdoor enthusiasts. The Triton series is
significantly easier to use than previous versions of any outdoor
GPS device, creating new opportunities to reach people who enjoy
outdoor activities – an estimated market of 120 million people in
the U.S. alone – but may not have used GPS in the past because of
complexity, restricted features, and the limitations of available
detailed outdoor maps. In 2008, more than 6 million outdoor GPS
units are expected to be sold worldwide.
The full-featured
Triton units offer full-color, touch-screen controls and the ability
to record and attach audio to waypoint files. Other features unique
to Triton include a built-in 2MB pixel camera, digital compass,
barometer and built-in LED flashlight. All of these features are
elegantly integrated and designed to create an overall experience
not found in any handheld GPS today.
IPX-7 rated and water
submersible, the Triton series delivers ruggedness required by even
the most demanding outdoor enthusiast.
As a result of the
alliance between Magellan and National Geographic, the Triton series
is the first outdoor handheld to offer users access to downloadable
National Geographic topographic maps. This alliance with Magellan
marks the first time that National Geographic maps will be made
available on a handheld GPS device.
Additionally, Triton is
the first Magellan handheld GPS to feature the new, free map and
content management application, VantagePoint, which enables users to
easily upgrade and share information to and from their Magellan
units. VantagePoint will allow Triton users to download additional
maps onto their devices, as well as upload stored treks, waypoints
and other recorded media.
National Geographic
Maps
Magellan Triton is the first device to offer
full, onscreen compatibility, usage and display of National
Geographic’s maps. National Geographic offers its 28 titles of TOPO!
outdoor recreation mapping software titles (covering all 50 states),
which include five layers of maps – from National Geographic Atlas
maps to the most detailed U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic
maps.
In addition, Triton is the first handheld GPS that
allows adventurers to download maps and waypoints from TOPO! and
from National Geographic’s new Weekend Explorer 3D, which includes
21 titles for major urban centers and surrounding recreational
areas.
Users can now have Magellan’s topographic maps and
National Geographic maps layered on one device for a complete
best-in-class mapping experience.
VantagePoint
VantagePoint from Magellan is the first desktop application that
lets people manage and expand their GPS experience. This powerful,
free tool lets users easily upgrade and share information to and
from their Magellan units. VantagePoint will enable the Triton user
to download additional maps onto their Tritons, as well as upload
stored tracks, waypoints and other media information.
"The
new Triton series of handheld receivers was designed to bring
handheld GPS to a new and expanded audience with the kind of
experience our team of outdoor enthusiasts have dreamed of – a
rugged GPS navigation device with a full-color touch screen,
friendly user interface, built-in camera and media recorder to
capture visited locations, and for the first time ever, access to
National Geographic maps on a handheld device," said Stig Pedersen,
senior director of marketing for Magellan. "The Triton is the ideal
backpack or tackle box companion for hikers and backpackers, hunters
and fishermen, boaters, and geocachers. With access to free,
downloadable VantagePoint software to sync together additional maps
and multimedia applications, the Triton devices are the easiest and
most versatile outdoor navigation solutions available."
The
penetration of GPS devices in the core outdoor segments of
backpacking, hiking and hunting remains at relatively low level of
about 5 percent. With its improved ease-of-use, increased feature
set and multi-media capabilities, Magellan Triton is aimed at
increasing market penetration.
Magellan will be donating a
portion of the proceeds from Triton sales through December 31, 2007,
to the National Park Foundation to assist in its efforts to help
sustain the conservation, preservation and enjoyment of America’s
national treasures. Additionally, Magellan will be donating 500 new
Triton units to the National Park Foundation to use as needed to
support its programs.
Triton 2000
The Triton 2000, available in North America in September and in
Europe in October, was designed by Magellan’s product development
team of outdoor enthusiasts to be the ultimate handheld device for
any adventurer, from hiker to outdoorsman. Ready to use out of the
box with built-in base maps, the Triton 2000 features a newly
redesigned user interface with color, 2.7-inch QVGA touch screen
that enables the easy selection of routes, waypoints and other
features. It also includes a built-in 2MP camera, SD card slot,
electronic compass and barometer, speaker/microphone and flashlight.
Additionally, the Triton 2000 features uploadable maps using
VantagePoint software, pointer and compass screen, and is waterproof
to IPX-7 standards. The unit will retail for $499.
Triton 1500
Similar to the 2000, the Triton
1500 is features a 2.7-inch QVGA color touch screen featuring
built-in base maps, uploadable maps using VantagePoint software, SD
card slot, speaker and microphone, flashlight, and is waterproof to
IPX-7 standards. Ideal for sportsmen, the unit will retail for $399.
Triton 500
The more compact-sized
Triton 500 features a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen, SD card slot to
enable users to install and save maps and data onto a flash card,
uploadable maps using VantagePoint software, built-in base maps, an
electronic compass and barometer, and is waterproof to IPX-7
standards. The backcountry backpacker will appreciate the Triton
500, which will retail for $249.
Triton 400
Similar to the 500, the Triton 400 includes 2.2-inch QVGA color
screen, SD card slot, built-in base maps, pointer and compass
screen, and is waterproof to IPX-7 standards. The Triton 400 also
features uploadable maps using VantagePoint software. The unit will
retail for $199.
Triton 300
In
addition to a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen, built-in base maps,
waterproof to IPX-7 design, pointer and compass screen, the Triton
300 features uploadable maps using VantagePoint software and 10 MB
of memory for map storage. The unit will retail for $149.
Triton 200
The Triton 200 is the base
model in the series, and includes a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen,
built-in base maps, waterproof to IPX-7 design, pointer and compass
screen, and runs on two AA batteries. An ideal companion for the
weekend hiker, the unit will retail for $129.
The Triton
series is expected to ship to all major U.S. retailers in September
and in Europe in October. Available accessories for Triton products
will include bicycle and swivel mounts, vehicle mounts, and carrying
cases.
About Magellan
Magellan is
a leader in the outdoor, vehicle navigation, survey, GIS and OEM GPS
navigation and positioning markets. Recognized as an industry
innovator, the company is the creator of the award-winning Magellan
RoadMate series portable car navigation systems, Maestro,
CrossoverGPS, the Magellan Triton outdoor handheld navigation
devices, the Hertz NeverLost car navigation system and ProMark, the
best-selling single frequency GPS survey product line on the market.
Magellan is privately held and headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif.,
with European headquarters in Carquefou, France. For more
information on Magellan, visit
magellangps.com.
About National Geographic
National Geographic Maps was established as a division of the
National Geographic Society in 1915 and has been producing maps for
National Geographic magazine and other Society media for more than
90 years. National Geographic Maps produces Trails Illustrated maps,
TOPO! outdoor recreation mapping software, globes, wall maps,
reference maps, state maps, city and recreational destination maps,
professional software and atlases. For more information on National
Geographic Maps, visit
natgeomaps.com.