OLATHE, Kan./PR Newswire - Garmin International Inc., a unit
of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today unveiled a new line of
lightweight, easy-to-use GPS products that are both colorful and
affordable. The company showed off its
Geko 101 and
Geko 201 devices today at the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show
in Las Vegas.
The Geko name is inspired by the multiple species of small,
sleek Gecko lizards that inhabit various parts of the world. As
pets, Gecko lizards are known for their low maintenance and high
entertainment value.
"We designed our Geko line to be inviting, useful and
affordable," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing.
"Whimsical colors, waterproof construction, easy operation,
intuitive software - even fun outdoor games - are all built into
these GPS devices that are designed to fit as comfortably into
your shirt pocket as they do into your budget."
The Geko series follows in the footsteps of the company's
successful eTrex® product line. The Geko series has Garmin's
traditional compact, waterproof design and user-friendly
interface (with features such as one-touch waypoint marking).
However, these products are slimmer and lighter than the eTrex
family, feature front-button functionality and operate on two
AAA batteries.
The
Geko 101 (yellow) is a low-cost device for navigational
novices. It has five buttons (Up/Zoom Out, Down/Zoom In, OK,
Page, and Power/Backlight) for easy operation and 250-waypoint
storage capacity with graphic identification to mark campsites,
parking spots and other specific locations. Targeted at the
casual user, the Geko 101 will be one of Garmin's most
affordable new products at approximately $100.
The
Geko 201 (green) is for consumers who want to graduate up to
the next level of outdoor navigation. The Geko 201 takes the
basic functions of the Geko 101 and adds the utility of the Wide
Area Augmentation System (WAAS) to deliver accuracy of less than
10 feet. The Geko 201 also boasts a user-configurable trip
computer and 10,000 log points for automatic recording of
electronic "breadcrumb trails."
The Geko 201 is also packed with several Garmin-proprietary
games that transform the great outdoors into a virtual board
game. Consumers can enjoy a good workout while they chase a
virtual lizard in Geko Smak, match symbols in a grid version of
Memory Race, navigate to reference points without crossing one’s
trail in Nibbons, and collect symbols along a path in Virtual
Maze.
Other specifications of the Geko 101 and Geko 201:
The Geko 101 and Geko 201 will be available in the first quarter
of 2003 with suggested retail prices of $113.00 and $149.99,
respectively. Both will ship standard with a quick-start guide
and owner’s manual.
The Geko 201 was also selected as a CES Innovations 2003 Design
& Engineering Showcase Award honoree in the Personal Electronics
category for its innovative combination of form, function and
value.