MapmyIndia extends GPS device range by launching CarPad 5 for Rs 19,990

GPS navigation provider MapmyIndia has further expanded its range of GPS devices in the country by launching CarPad 5, an all-in-one GPS navigator, smartphone and 3G tablet (at least that is what the company claims). Like its predecessor, the new device also runs on the Android operating system and it is priced at Rs 19,990 (Rs 3,000 less than the earlier version). Here is a quick look at its specifications.

Unlike the original CarPad that sported a 7 inch screen, the company has chosen a 5 inch capacitive touchscreen display (480x800 pixel resolution) for the new device. It runs on Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread operating system (which is history now) and is powered by a 1 GHz Samsung Cortex A8, Exynos 3110 processor.

The device memory can be expanded up to 32 GB with the help of a microSD card. On the connectivity front, it has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and 3G, and comes with a miniUSB port and a microSD card slot. The company has provided a 2,000 mAh battery for the device.

It also comes pre-loaded with Aura, the company's latest navigation interface that offers full 3D navigation and detailed maps, including house numbers and city & travel guides. The maps cover over 6.3 million places, 5,79,000 towns & villages and 4,000 cities. They also feature street-level and house-level data for 36 cities and 3D landmarks for 34 major cities.

In addition, the device offers live turn-by-turn voice guidance, real-time traffic updates, house-level search and discount offers in the vicinity, etc.

CarPad 5 also supports a SIM card, which means it can double up as a smartphone and one can use it to make calls, send messages and chat. The 5 inch screen should not pose any problem either, as people are already used to even larger devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note (it has a 5.3 inch screen). Plus, it's an Android device, which means you can also download apps/games from the Google Play store.

Most of its features are similar to those offered the earlier version. But the key differentiators happen to be the screen size and the pricing (both have been reduced). Reducing the size is actually a sensible decision as it ensures better portability. But the price of the new device (Rs 19,990) is still a hefty one to pay for a GPS device that doubles up as a tablet and smartphone.

You can buy it from the company's online store, with cash-on-delivery option for select locations. The company is also offering a 4 GB memory card, a windshield mount and a car charger bundled with the device.

"The CarPad 5 is one of the many in-car productivity gadgets we plan to launch in the near future," said Rakesh Verma, MD of MapmyIndia.

Other navigation devices available in the market include Garmin Corporation's (a part of Garmin Ltd) nüvi 40LM and 50LM (priced at Rs 8,450 and Rs 9,990, respectively) and Dutch navigation service provider TomTom's VIA series of personal navigation devices (priced at Rs 15,000 onwards), among others.

(Edited by Sanghamitra Mandal)