Nav Device Sales Flatline, Could Become Cheaper
This could mean cheaper devices for consumers as manufacturing costs continue to come down and demand remains stagnant. Look for decent products in the $100 range and even high-end devices hovering around $250, according to Gearlog.
Device manufacturers will likely shift into the next big thing — smart phones and cell phones. Dutch company TomTom, which in 2004 shifted automotive navigation from strictly a luxury feature to the wider market, could nab 20% of high-end smart phone sales if it capitalizes on the emerging technology.
Using a gigabyte of storage, these products have both the application and mapping data right on the phone rather than just the application. Other companies like Networks in Motion have customers keep the application in the phone while the mapping exists in a server.
Lower prices on portable nav devices could push the monthly rates for such services down, too.
