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The Garmin GPS System is the leading outdoor GPS system in North America today. Founded at a time when GPS satellites were just beginning to be popular, Garmin has come a long way from its humble beginnings to become the premier provider of sophisticated GPS systems for military, business and personal uses. Garmin undoubtedly has captured the largest market share across most segments, especially in the portable aviation segment.
Garmin GPS System - The Product Lines
Garmin GPS systems are now shipped all over the world and are a part of innumerable other devices as well. The company's first product was a medium-priced GPS receiver for the maritime navigation market. It was a successful product that accelerated the development of the company. One of its products, a small hand-held GPS device was extensively used in the first Gulf war.
Navigator Units – Garmin GPS systems for the marine industry form a significant part of Garmin's revenues. These are expensive navigational units that are installed in all sorts of boats and marine vessels. The product portfolio in this segment is huge, encompassing chart plotters, hand-held navigational equipment, two-way communicators, and GPS sounders.
Personal Units – Portable devices for personal use also form a significant portion of Garmin's sales. Personal Garmin GPS systems are usually the cheapest products they have and are rarely used beyond personal use. These are very small devices no bigger than a PDA or sometimes even as small as a mobile phone.
They are perfect for everyday sportsmen. Whether it's hiking, hunting, biking, mountain climbing or camping, personal Garmin GPS systems are an indispensable companion. Most of these products contain extensive maps and geographic information that are necessary for successfully maneuvering uncharted terrain.
Another excellent use of personal Garmin GPS systems is in recreation. Geocaching is slowly becoming a very popular game. It is like a modern-day treasure hunting game of sorts where a GPS emitting item is hidden and people with personal GPS devices try to track it down.
Another great product range is the two-way communicators. These are basically Garmin GPS systems with the added ability of two-way communication. Not only can two people talk to each other, but they can send their exact location to each other.
Aviation Units – Garmin provides a wide range of GPS navigation systems for the avionics industry. These include portable GPS navigation devices and sophisticated and expensive integrated systems. The high-end products feature intricate panel displays and advanced integration with the aircraft.
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