A NASA Satellite
Garmin was once a bleep on the business map when it started in 1989 in Switzerland. It was headed by Min Kao and Gary Burrell, and now has its international headquarters in Kansas. The company’s focus was consumer electronics, and the GPS was just one of their products.
Their GPS device was first used in automobiles but soon became available for runners, flyers, boaters, and hikers. They introduced the Personal Navigation Device which you could either use in cars or on your wrist. In short, you have the GPS everywhere you go regardless of what you’re doing.
Garmin in South Africa
With a GPS being a necessity in South Africa if one ventures outside the major cities, Garmin just had to come in, which they did through authorized dealers overseen by Garmin Distribution Africa (Pty) Limited. Originally this group was an independent dealer company from Garmin until Garmin bought it in September this year. Clearly, it is a sign of confidence in the market. In April of 2011, Garmin joined up with Navteq to assist its African market with navigation data. The stage is now set for a more extensive reach for Garmin in South Africa. Other global offices are in UK, Taiwan, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Norway, and the US.
To use the Garmin GPS devices in South Africa you have to download a compatible Garmin application like Mapsource, which is an extra cost, or stick with the Garmap Southern Africa Streetmaps. This comes free if you buy your GPS device in South Africa.
The Garmin GPS Products
The Garmin GPS products available in South Africa are the following:
• Marine GPS: a panel-mounted receiver for boats and ships
• A handheld GPS used by runners and hikers: a popular model is the Forerunner while the Foretrex and eTrex are both bought by hikers, bikers, trekkers, and even sailboat enthusiasts
• PDA GPS receivers
• On The Road GPS
• Fishfinders which are sonar devices which help anglers detect movement under the water using sound technology
• Laptop and Mobile GPS
• Nüvifone is one of Garmin’s latest releases for location specific mobile phones. It works with Asus and AT&T in the US
Why Choose Garmin?
Last year, Garmin Southern Africa was awarded the Superbrands Status because of its superior quality, performance and dominance in the South Africa GPS market. Right now, it is the preferred choice of discerning South Africans including visiting ambassadors and business people.
Garmin has a dozen parallel channel receivers which means regardless of thick foliage or tall buildings, it can still connect to satellites and provide accurate information. Its accuracy is 15 meters on the average. The newer models being released have Wide Area Augmentation System or WAAS which is perfect for anyone living in South Africa. This has an adjustment of signals and can correct itself to a mere 3 meters from where you want to go.
Garmin GPS Feedback
South Africans who have used or use Garmin GPS products are extremely content with the performance. They highly recommend it for travelling and outdoor sports.