Safe Speed Forums

Garmin go Live with nLink connected SatNavs
Article by: Mike Barrett Date: 10 May 2011

Today Garmin announce a new range of PND SatNavs. Called nüLink! the range has 3 models: the 2390, 2340, and the 2320. What differentiates these GPS devices from the previous Garmin products is the 'Live' functionality. The new PNDs include a cellular connection allowing the transfer of data from the Garmin servers to the PND. This allows Garmin to send and receive up to date traffic and other data allowing the driver to be kept aware of the latest road conditions.

There are 3 main areas of interest in the new NüLink! devices: 3D Traffic, Garmin Tracker, and Cyclops Speedwatch.

The Garmin 3D traffic service is a combination of conventional probe and editorial traffic information, and live traffic cameras. How often do you have traffic reports that are not as accurate as you would like? I know I get lots even with the best the competition can offer, but knowing that there is a problem is not useful unless you can make an informed decision what to do about it. Well seeing is believing and Garmin's new Photo Live Traffic enables you to see exactly what the traffic conditions are and allowing you to decide how to avoid them.

This has been achieved by partnering with the Highways Agency (in the UK), and other authorities across Europe to geo-reference all the traffic cameras on the road network and provide live images to the PND. You can even configure the start screen of your Garmin to show you your 'Favourite' cameras when you switch it on. This will allow you to check your route to work as you set off. Clive Taylor Garmin's Product and Marketing Director told PocketGPSWorld.com " Some people do not believe in the traffic information they are given, but with Photo Live Cameras seeing is believing!"

Garmin Tracker is a Technology developed from the Garmin GTU 10 system and allows the user to provide your current location (by invitation) to friends, family or others. This feature is called follow me and can be configured to authorise someone to see your location from a computer connected to the Internet. This permission based service can even be configured to allow someone to follow your movements for a set time period ie 24 hours.

The system will also include Cyclops SpeedWatch speed cameras. Users can report camera locations live and get updated camera locations as they are driving.

The Garmin Live services also include fuel prices, dynamic parking, weather, flight tracking, and Google Local. There is also a send to GPS feature to transmit a location from your computer to the GPS.

The models are differentiated mainly by mapping. The 2320 has regional mapping, the 2340 has Western Europe maps whilst the 2390 has full European maps. The flagship 2390 also has Advanced Speech Recognition which allows you to issue voice commands to control the device.

Good news is that, unlike some competitors, Garmin still allow the import of 3rd Party POIs. This means that the PocketGPSWorld.com speed camera POIs will load onto the device and still give their proximity warnings.

The new Garmin 23xx devices all come with a one year to full live services. Prices for the 2390 are £229.99 and should be in the shops early June.

We are currently awaiting the official Garmin press release and will add it as soon as we receive it.