Garmin prepping nuvi 1690 connected GPS
updated 03:45 pm EDT, Mon August 17, 2009
Garmin nuvi 1690 at FCC
Garmin's plans to enter connected GPS units in earnest have been uncovered thanks to an FCC user manual filing (PDF) for its first receiver under the title. First shown only in testing, the nuvi 1690 will have a built-in cellular modem and will use an in-house service known as nuinfo that would let users find information through Google Local Search and receive temperature updates for their current area courtesy of the title bar. The data link will also be useful for live traffic updates and provide a means of searching for fuel prices and flight times.
In line with its role as a high-end GPS unit, it should have Bluetooth as well as more advanced mapping features like junction and lane assists as well as Bluetooth for hands-free calling. No clues are given as to a launch in the filing by itself, but the 1690 is unofficially poised to launch in early September. [via GPSTracklog]
