Stay Close to the Action Anywhere, Anytime With Garmin's nüvi 1490TV

SOUTHAMPTON, England, January 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

Garmin(R) today announced the nüvi(R) 1490TV a personal navigation device that combines cutting edge Pan-European navigation features with DVB-T digital terrestrial TV and radio.

Using the DVB-T digital television standard, the nüvi can pick up freeview digital TV and radio content from over 14 countries across Europe. In the UK there are over 50 digital TV channels and 24 digital radio stations including programmes from digital content providers such as the BBC, ITV, SKY, Film4 and Five to name a few.2

At the core of the device is an easy to use sat nav that has all the usual features you would find in a top of the range Garmin nüvi, but with the addition of the DVB -T digital tuner, users can keep in touch with all the digital TV content available over the airwaves.

"The nüvi 1490TV is the answer for those who want to keep in touch with the latest sporting events, soaps or even cookery shows while following TV recipes in the kitchen." said Colin Lee, Garmin's Automotive Product Manager. "The nüvi's 5 inch screen and mount is just the right size to place anywhere in the home, caravan or car and is ideal for people from parents waiting to pick up the kids from school to taxi drivers waiting for fares."

Any worries that the driver might keep the TV on while driving have been safeguarded against by Garmin engineers building in a safety feature that switches off the TV on the nüvi 1490TV and only allows the navigation when the car is moving.

The nüvi 1490TV features a bright, 5 inch colour touchscreen display, ensuring any picture is bright and colourful, great for sporting events such as the forthcoming FIFA World Cup as you won't have to miss any of games with this pocket sized TV. It also doubles up as a great picture viewer (with photo navigation capability).

The nüvi 1490TV has built-in stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone output, a long life lithium-ion battery, composite video input for external reversing camera (not supplied), a built-in aerial for high DVB-T signal strength areas and two magnetic dipole aerials for low signal areas.

The nüvi 1490TV comes pre-programmed with highly detailed road maps of Europe, free premium traffic updates3, safety camera warnings3, a database with over two million Points of Interest (POI's) featuring hotels, attractions, fuel stations and more, Garmin's 'Where am I' safety feature showing your precise location, nearest junction, hospital, police station and breakdown service contact details. Also turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions guiding drivers to their destination, announcing streets by name along the way. If they miss a turn, the nüvi automatically recalculates a route and gets them back on track.

You can also have hands-free phone calls, the nüvi 1490TV can be paired with compatible phones using Bluetooth wireless technology. Users can find and dial phone numbers (specifically supported phones can even access their history log of received, missed and dialled calls) or nüvi's POI database (hotels, restaurants, stores and more).

The nüvi 1490TV will be available across Europe in early April 2010 at GBP299/EUR299. Visit http://www.garmin.co.uk for more information.

So that the nüvi 1490TV can be connected to existing aerial sockets within the home a 'standard aerial socket to plug adaptor' will be available in April. Price TBC

Countries where DVB-T Digital TV is available: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom.2 Subject to reception and digital and coverage area.3 Subject to country/region.

Additional information:

At the end of 2009, Garmin undertook a market survey of its customers and asked a number of questions regarding the nüvi 1490TV. Most interestingly the top 5 answers to the following two questions help to position the new sat nav.

    Q1: Where would you use a portable sat nav digital TV?

    Top 5 Answers:

    1. In the car/taxi waiting to pick up friends and family/customers from
       shopping, airport, clubs and children's activities
    2. At work during lunch hour
    3. On holiday at the beach or festival
    4. In the kitchen watching cooking programme
    5. In the Garden

    Q2: What types of programmes would you watch?

    Top 5 Answers:

    1. News
    2. Sporting events
    3. Soaps
    4. Films
    5. Drama and documentaries (including cookery programmes, hence answer to
       number 1)

About Garmin

The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 - most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin's products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information visit Garmin's media centre at http://www.garmin.co.uk/mediacentre. Garmin and nüvi are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on forward-looking statements:

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company's future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2008, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of Garmin's Form 10-K can be downloaded at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Note to Editors:

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SOURCE Garmin Europe Ltd