Routeplanners: SatNav & GPS News

The Internet rumor mill has revealed Nokia’s new tablet-style handheld with an integrated GPS chip in the works. Called the 330, the upcoming device appears to be smaller than the Finnish phone maker’s first touch screen gadget without cellular-wireless capabilities, the Linux-based 770.

Like Hewlett-Packad’s most recent iPAQ, the rx5900 Travel Companion, and Nokia’s upcoming N95 smartphone, the 330 integrates location-based services - through a SiRF Star III GPS chipset. The 330’s main menu even plasters its navigation intentions right up front on the main screen. It, like the HP device, seems more entertainment focused than the 770, with movies and MP3 options presented front and center as well.

Additional supposed features of the 330 include a smaller 3.5-inch display than the 770’s 4-inch type and the capability to play DivX movies. Although there’s no indication of this so far, we expect the 330 should include Wi-Fi like the earlier model and, perhaps, many of that device’s mobile messaging and VoIP features.

For the N95 - due to ship during the first quarter 2007 in Europe - Tele Atlas provides the digital map data and dynamic location content, which includes free basic mapping and routing functionalities to initiate local searches for more than 100 countries and over 15 million points of interest. Conceivably, the 330 could contain the very same navigation data.

A week ago, Navicore announced it would port its GPS software, Navicore Personal 2007, to Linux for the 770. The application features maps, turn-by-turn directions, and points-of-interest data from Tele Atlas as well.

Earlier this month Nokia demonstrated its strong interest in wireless mapping applications when it cross-licensed patents with Trimble. With the deal, which Nokia said would enable it to offers customers more location-based services, the Finnish phone giant gained exclusive licensing and sublicensing rights to Trimble’s Global Navigation Satellite System.