GPS Systems for Business Travel

Get the Features You Need

From getting to the meeting on time, to finding the restaurant your client requested, a GPS navigation system can save you time and aggravation. When it comes to choosing a GPS for business travel, however, one size does not necessarily fit all. Check out these tips for finding the best types of GPS systems for your business travel needs.

For the City Hopper

The business traveler that wakes up in a different city every morning has specific needs in a GPS system.

Look For:

1. Compact size: You never know when you might need it, so look for a model you can carry with you easily at all times.
2. Versatility: Find a model that has a Pedestrian Mode, so you can use it for both driving and walking.
3. Text-to-speech capabilities: This is a handy tool for downtown city navigation. Instead of hearing generic directions ("in 500 feet, turn left"), you'll hear specific, turn-by-turn navigation with street names ("in 500 feet, turn left onto 6th Avenue").

Portable Options:

• PDAs/Smartphones: Software can be added to both PDAs and smartphones, turning them into hand-held navigation devices without extra bulk.
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• Cell Phones: Carriers are improving GPS functionality on cell phones. Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint all offer subscription packages, which frequently include color maps as well as turn-by-turn driving directions. You may also be able to look up local points of interest or receive up-to-the-minute traffic updates to your phone.
• Compact Portable GPS systems: When it comes to a GPS system for the business traveler, size matters. Look for sleek units with screens 3.5" and smaller. Some units are equipped with pedestrian modes, making it easier to find your way around city centers on foot.
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For the International Business Traveler:

GPS systems can make finding your way abroad a lot less daunting, particularly when you aren't fluent in the native tongue.

Look For:

1. Maps: Some GPS units come preloaded with international maps. You can also download maps to your existing unit from the GPS supplier’s web site. The top two GPS providers, TomTom and Garmin, have user-friendly websites that to guide you through this process. Prices (for downloaded maps) range from $29 to over $100 depending on features and regions you choose.
2. Extra features: You may want to look for handy features like currency converters, a world clock or language translators.
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Regional Road Warrior:

If you spend most of your working day in a car, a GPS system is a must-have business travel gadget. From door-to-door directions to real time traffic alerts, a GPS system can save you both time and money on the road.

Look For:

1. Visual and voice-guided navigation
2. Touch screen: You won't want to mess with push-button controls and scrolling while driving.
3. Larger screen sizes:If the unit is primarily for auto use, a larger screen (at least 3.5") makes map viewing easier.
4. Bluetooth capabilities: You can set up your GPS to allow hands-free use of your cell phone.
5. Traffic alerts: Get real-time traffic data to avoid potential delays and receive alternate routes.
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