Mobile GPS at GPS Gazette

Benefon today announced three new smartphones with interesting features. The names of the three devices are TWIG Talisman, TWIG Totem, and TWIG Monolith, Interesting names none the less.

TWIG Talisman

The TWIG Talisman is a Tri-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE device that will be running Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 and it will support Microsoft Outlook Mobile for quick access to email, calendar, task and contact functions. Although we have no picture of it at the moment according to the press release it will have a traditional numeric key pad and a 2.6” touch-screen. It’s integrated SiRF Star III GPS chip and Benefon’s new Windows navigation and location search solution will provide users with turn by turn voice guided directions. Finally it features a 2 MP digital camera and Bluetooth® 1.2

TWIG Totem

Twig Totem is a 3,5G handset that according to the Press Release

is a lightweight and powerful mobile device that offers a full range
of PDA features such as Microsoft Office Mobile for reading and editing Word and
Excel documents, combined with Benefon’s powerful Windows navigation system for
real time turn by turn navigation and access to location relevant information.
The Twig Totem features touch screen and numeric key pad inputs, an integrated
SiRF Star III GPS chip, 3 mega pixel camera and Bluetooth® 2.0.

TWIG Monolith

Finally the TWIG Monolith is a WiFi phone with integrated GPS (SiRFStar III) that will feature both a numeric keypad and a touchscreen and will have a smartphone form factor. Same as the two previously mentioned units it will be using WM6, Benefon’s new turn by turn Windows navigation system and embedded location search technology. Other features include a 2MP digital camera and and Bluetooth 1.2

These new devices by Benefon are expected to start shipping in June 2007 with an unknown price tag.

Press Release

Nokia unveiled the 6110 Navigator a a quadband mobile phone with sat-nav capabilities that according to Nokia it was designed for the mass market. Besides GPS the 6110 Navigator also features A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System). The Nokia 6110 Navigator has almost everything most people would ask for from their GPS. It comes with preinstalled maps, and users can easily access the navigation features with the click of the phone’s one-touch Navigator key.

With the Nokia 6110 Navigator, consumers can quickly and easily view their current location on the map, search for destinations, find specific routes, or locate services such as restaurants, hotels or shops that are nearby. Featuring full turn-by-turn 3D navigation, the Nokia 6110 Navigator suggests the best route to follow to reach a location by car or on foot. Clear instructions by voice guidance and turn arrows on a map ensure finding the fastest way to the destination.

Nokia 6110 in addition to all of the above has some pretty interesting specs as a cell phone as well, which include:

• Symbian OS (S60 platform)
• HSDPA for fast web browsing and downloading
• WCDMA 2100 HSDPA, GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
• 2 megapixel camera with integrated flash, 4x digital zoom and panorama mode
• Real-time video sharing and video calling
• 40 MB free internal memory
• Support of microSD memory card up to 2 GB

The 6110 is expected to start shipping in Q2 for an estimated price of €450/$580 (before subsidies or taxes.)