Personal navigation devices, like the popular TomTom
units pictured, are proving to be a hugely successful alternative to built-in nav systems in Europe, a trend that is
likely to be repeated in the U.S. market.
ABI Research has released a report showing that the more successful companies
are increasing sales more than 600 percent annually, to the point that sales are becoming limited by component
supply.
Two key factors are leading to the rapid adoption of personal nav products – low prices, and
“dynamic navigation” features that add traffic awareness to on-the-fly route selection.
With
product availability improving in the U.S. market, and the parallel growth of mobile video and data services, portable
navigation looks set to take off in the U.S.