Tag: GPS

GPS devices with their ability to pinpoint your exact location to the latest millimeter has been turning up on everything from cell phones to car DVD players these days. These tools can guide you to where you intend to go to by graphically showing your actual position in a map before giving you turn by turn directions to your destination.

When first created these were large contraptions attached to cars and other vehicles, the techniques used in GPS devices have gone a long way resulting in smaller, a growing number of portable, and more affordable devices packed with a wide variety of features that users like you will surely enjoy. Some of the devices with this technology include car DVD players, wristbands, mobile phones, smartphones handheld units, computers and even devices small enough to be put onto your keychain.

Almost anything can be put to use as a GPS capable device, from the least expensive portable units, to the most high priced high-end units with 3D and high-definition digital maps. As a distributor or entrepreneur engaged in the GPS sector, it is important that you are familiar with the benefits, disadvantages and features of each of these device so you are in a better position to help your customers make the right choice.

The Three Most Common Types Of GPS Device

The following is a quick look at the more popular GPS navigation devices available in the field:

* Car DVD Players with GPS Capabilities

The car DVD player is more than an entertainment device these days it can also be used for communicating and navigating. These players have incredible audio quality and high resolution screens which are much better than other portable GPS devices.

The problem however lies in how hard car DVD playes are to carry around as these units are directly installed on your vehicle’s dashboard. Costs of car DVD players can also be prohibitive, and are much higher than cell phones or portable GPS units. These electronics however appeal to people with a more classy taste and are not opposed to spending more for better quality. These devices also appeal to users who constantly make use of GPS systems on their cars such as limousine services and car rentals.

* Portable GPS Units

People who place a greater value on portability or the ability to use their GPS device in different vehicles will be more inclined to use portable GPS units. There is a wide variety of portable navigational devices available from snap on units that are able to be mounted on a card dashboard or handheld GPS navigators that can be strapped on the wrist or arms to aid with navigation while hiking or jogging.

These units have almost the same functions as installed GPS units but their video and audio output is lower. You can play multimedia files uploaded to the device’s internal memory, but these devices have no capabilities of taking CDs or DVDs directly. The main attraction however is the units superb portability and the lower price that can drop by as much as 30% to 50% compared to other GPS devices.

* Cellular Phones with GPS Capabilities

The FCC mandated E911 required cell phone manufacturers to possess GPS capabilities built in to cell phones and upmarket phones to help 911 response units to pinpoint the phone’s location during emergencies. But emergency situations are not the only advantage for the GPS capabilities of these phones as you are able to use them for directional information just like any other GPS tool.

Cell Phones aren’t as good at media and entertainment as car DVD players or handheld media devices but they are tops at communication. These devices appeal to people who need GPS functionality but do not want to lug around a separate unit.

Assisting Your Customers To Make the Right Choice

It is up to the seller (that’s you) to make the buyer understand the strengths and weaknesses of each type of device and guide them towards making the right decision. So, it is vital that you ask customer certain queries that will guide them in the selection process.

First is to ask them what particular places they intend to use the device in.You wouldn’t suggest that an outdoors person would buy a car DVD player with GPS functionality to fill their needs, just like you wouldn’t recommend a small screened portable GPS unit to a motorist.

Frequencies are another thing to ask users about, particularly with their need to use a cellular phone equipped with GPS or they aim to use a dual-band or tri-band portable GPS navigator in a different country. Take note that GSM signal frequencies are sometimes be different depending on where the customer is going so it is important that you and your customer know exactly what they need.

Similar to frequencies, DVD regions is another thing to ask if the customer has his eye on a car DVD player with GPS capabilities. They may end up unable to read certain DVDs if there are regional limitations in the tool itself.

Aside from the above, you should ask customers the particular features or applications that they would like their GPS device to have. If they need to play DVDs or CDs then recommending a portable GPS or even a cell phone is not very wise. If portability is an important consideration for the customer don’t recommend a car DVD player. Cell phones and portable GPS units can be installed added applications so it would be wise to know what can be installed or not.