Bluetooth GPS Receivers: Kings of Speed and Convenience

You are probably already familiar with Bluetooth, the short-range wireless technology designed to replace cables between computers and peripherals. Bluetooth technology was originally developed by Ericsson and named after Harald "Bluetooth," the 10th-century Viking king who peacefully united the Danes and Norwegians. Bluetooth is striving to achieve a similar unity between computers and peripherals using a standard wireless format.

Bluetooth GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers use this technology to wirelessly connect to a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or Pocket PC that has GPS software installed on it. Bluetooth GPS solutions are only about a year old, but they are quickly becoming the reigning royalty of GPS navigation because of fast satellite acquisition, attractive design, and convenient form factor. The Bluetooth GPS receivers described in this article are all NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) compliant. Because of this, they can be used with most GPS software for the Pocket PC.

Bluetooth GPS receivers have been released by TeleType, TomTom, ALK Technologies (CoPilot), Pharos, and, most recently, HP. Most GPS software companies support any Bluetooth GPS receiver, even if they don't market the receiver itself.

The benefits of Bluetooth GPS

The major benefit of a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver is that it doesn't have to be physically connected to the Pocket PC. That eliminates a tangle of cables that dangle in your way while you are walking or driving. In addition, Bluetooth solutions let you position the GPS receiver for optimal GPS reception, and your Pocket PC separately for the best viewing. Bluetooth can travel around corners, and through clothing and other material.

Because it is not physically connected to the Pocket PC, a Bluetooth GPS receiver must have its own power supply. Therefore, it will not drain your Pocket PC's battery as a CompactFlash GPS receiver would. This also means that you have to make sure the battery on the GPS receiver is charged. Most of them are powered by lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. You can extend the life and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries by avoiding full discharges. Recharge them before you get the low power warning—it's OK to charge them frequently. As mentioned, the Pocket PC must also be equipped with a Bluetooth receiver, but the power drawn by this is minimal.

Finally, when you turn on any GPS receiver, it must first go through the process of acquiring (finding and locking on to) signals from the available GPS satellites before you can use it. Because Bluetooth GPS receivers are so portable, you can turn one on and place it near a car window shortly before you are ready to go. This allows it to locate the GPS satellite signals and be ready when you are.

TomTom's impressive GPS software Bluetooth receiver

TomTom (http://www.tomtom.com) has reigned over the European handheld GPS scene for well over a year and has recently introduced its Pocket PC GPS solutions in the U.S. They offer a stand-alone version of the TomTom Navigator USA software for the Pocket PC and also a bundle that includes the software with either a cabled or a Bluetooth GPS receiver. This article focuses a little more on the TomTom GPS solution since it is new to the U.S. and we have not reviewed the software before.

The software package includes street-level maps for the entire United States. Versions with maps of Europe are also available. The most impressive feature of this program is its ability to display a lifelike 3D view of the maps (2D view also available). The road, your position on the road, and icons representing points of interest are clearly displayed (Screen 1). Customizable menus let you prioritize the features most important to you. It also features a special low-glare night display option.

Screen 1: The 3D perspective viewing of TomTom maps is impressive in action. Notice that the destination miles, ETA, and current time can be displayed concurrently.