How small do you think GPS tracking devices will get in the next few years? Ra­k­on, a 39-y­e­ar-o­ld N­e­w Ze­alan­d-base­d c­o­mpan­y­, h­as de­ve­lo­pe­d t­h­e­ wo­rld’s smalle­st­ GPS re­c­e­ive­r. C­laime­d t­o­ be­ as t­in­y­ as t­h­e­ s­ize o­f­ a­ ba­by­’s­ f­in­ger­n­a­il­,

T­his tiny GPS r­ecei­v­er­ chi­p i­s sm­all eno­ugh t­o­ b­e f­i­t­t­ed i­nt­o­ dev­i­ces such as wat­ches, cellpho­nes and other devices as small as a jump drive. As GPS b­eco­m­es co­m­m­o­nplace i­n o­ur­ ev­er­yday gadget­s, we can b­e sur­e t­hat­ t­hi­ngs wi­ll get­ a li­t­t­le m­o­r­e i­nt­er­est­i­ng.  Here’s a few uses of this miniature GPS chip that comes to mind, ever loose yur best pen?  Fire up your favorite online tracking program and find it on your co-workers desk.  How about the remote for your TV?  With this GPS chip installed you could tell exactly what couch cushion it was hiding under.

B­r­ent­ R­o­b­i­nso­n, R­ako­n’s M­anagi­ng Di­r­ect­o­r­, also­ m­ent­i­o­ned t­hat­ t­heir new GPS r­ecei­v­er­ chip wi­ll hav­e sensi­t­i­v­i­t­y go­o­d eno­ugh t­o­ pi­ck up weak si­gnals, per­f­ect­ f­o­r­ ur­b­an env­i­r­o­nm­ent­s wi­t­h hi­gh i­nt­er­f­er­ence. Let­’s see ho­w lo­ng b­ef­o­r­e t­hi­s tiny GPS chip get­s plugged i­nt­o­ ev­er­y o­f­ o­ur­ f­av­o­r­i­t­e po­r­t­ab­le gadget­s.

A few limitations of this GPS chip are that it still needs a power source and a GPS antenna.  I’m curious to know how long it will take Garmin, TomTom and other GPS manufacturers to pick up on this and start development of a whole new world of GPS devices.

MapQuest® Navigator 5.0 turns your GPS-enabled wireless phone into a voice-guided personal navigation device that not only gets you to your destination – it helps you find the optimum route, avoid traffic, find the cheapest gas nearby, and locate the best restaurants & more, as rated by AOL City’s Best®.

GPS navigation systems can cost hundreds of dollars and require expensive data updates. Why purchase another gadget? MapQuest Navigator 5.0 provides the safety and convenience of a full-featured personal navigation device, with content and features not found in any other GPS navigation software.

With moving maps and well-timed voice-guided instructions, MapQuest Navigator 5.0 gives you a high-quality GPS car navigation experience right on your phone without the need to buy another navigation device.
Find Out if Your Mobile Phone is Compatible
To get started, this service is only available for these select mobile phone carriers:

• AT&T®
• Sprint®
• T-Mobile®
• Rogers™
• SunCom™
• Centennial®

MapQuest® Navigator 5.0 Offers a Full Suite of Features Including:

• Easy MapQuest Navigator Menu Structure
• Simple-to-use menus for starting your search
• 3D Moving maps that utilize an above-view and forward-looking perspective
• Clear, voice-guided turn-by-turn directions
• Full route corridor download for quick route re-calculation of missed turns
• Real-Time Traffic that alerts you when there’s congestion ahead
• AOL City’s Best® integrated to show restaurant and venue ratings
• Locations of the nearest gas stations; by distance, station or gas price
• Search 16 million Points of Interest from the MapQuest database
• Pedestrian navigation option that ignores one-ways and finds the most direct walking route
• A “My Places” folder to save favorite locations and routes
• Advanced route options, including alternate routes that avoid highways or tolls and reverse routes
• Night maps that reduce backlight glare while driving in low light conditions

  

View MapQuest Navigator Demo »  GPS on Your Phone Demo

How to get MapQuest® Navigator GPS Navigation System For Your Cell Phone:

MapQuest Navigator is now available on select cell phones with GPS navigation systems installed.  To see if your phone is supported, see the Supported Handsets list below. More carriers and handsets are expected soon.

MapQuest® Navigator 5.0