BIOS: Technology Means Business

Mio Technology, the portable navigation product manufacturer, has announced the availability and pricing for the new Mio A201 integrated GPS PDA, with product available in stores from middle of December.

Designed from the outset as a navigation device rather than a regular PDA, the Mio A201 offers a rotating GPS antenna so you can navigate in both portrait mode (as found on a standard sat-nav PDA) and in landscape mode (as found on a dedicated sat-nav system). The screen modes can be switched by rotating the antenna or by tapping a button. The rotating antenna also help to ensure that there’s no loss of GPS signal quality when you switch between the two modes, claims Mio.

Mio A201 also offers Bluetooth for wireless file exchange, Outlook synchronisation and as part of a hands-free car kit for Bluetooth-equipped phones. Navigation performance is improved through the addition of a new 312MHz Intel Bulverde processor and 64MB of RAM, which should help quicken route planning and calculation.

Fitting in the palm of the hand, the Mio A201 is a truly portable sat-nav device that is just as at home in the car, on a mountain bike or simply as a walking navigation device for country walks or exploring city centres. However, with Microsoft Windows Mobile onboard and features like Outlook Mobile Contacts and Calendar, Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile, games and Windows Media Player, the A201 isn’t just for finding your way around.

The Mio A201 offers a series of important improvements over the Mio 168, the world’s first Pocket PC with integrated GPS receiver and the product that helped Mio make its name in Europe. The most significant improvement is the addition of the latest 20-channel SirfStar III GPS chipset, which enhances GPS satellite signal pick up and reception compared to the previous generation, 12-channel receivers.

The new 320x240-pixel, colour LCD touch-screen is less reflective, which should mean better visibility in bright sunlight. A new surface treatment also makes the screen virtually smudge-free, so fingers won’t leave visible prints on it. While the screen is also more brightly lit making for clearer viewing of video or pictures.

The Mio A201 is fully compatible with the TMC (Traffic Message Channel) service if the chosen navigation software supports it. This service is freely available across most of Europe, except for the UK and France, and provides constant updates and routing options on nearby traffic problems. For example, if a queue builds up following an accident, TMC automatically calculates an alternative route. The TMC receiver is not included with the Mio A201, but is available separately in stores or at Mio's online store.

A new Lithium-ion 1200mAh battery should deliver over 4.5 hours of operation. The battery can be swapped out meaning you can easily double or triple operational life with the purchase of extra batteries. The Mio A201 is also PDA, so you have the choice of which navigational software you want to load onto the device - whether it’s street mapping or ordinance survey mapping for rambling in the countryside. The device will work with any navigation software compatible with Windows Mobile 5.

The Mio A201 will also be offered with the latest version of the Mio Map software, version 2 for Pocket PC. Version 2 has been given a fresh new interface.

The onboard Points of Interest (POI) database has been updated to include many more locations and facilities. It now includes telephone contact details for many locations so you can book a restaurant table or find out about opening times in advance of arriving at your location. In addition to the millions of European points of interest in the onboard database, it is also now possible to download new or customised point of interest lists from a web-based subscription service.

The Mio A201 will be available in store from of the middle of December priced at £239 (inc. VAT), without mapping software. Accessories in the box include power adapter, car charger, USB synch cable, car mount and carry case. The Mio A201 comes with a two year warranty as standard. The Mio 168 will continue as an entry level integrated GPS PDA.