Garmin International Inc. announced the fleet 660 and 670, two new fleet navigators that combine Garmin navigation with Android. With the fleet 660 for local fleets and the fleet 670 for commercial truck fleets, service providers can introduce customized applications and value-added services that meet the unique requirements of their customers, said the company. The new devices also connect to and control a wide range of external devices over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or serial cable.
“The fleet 660 and 670 are our first fleet products that combine trusted Garmin navigation and hardware with the flexibility of Android,” said Chad Sallman, senior business development manager for commercial solutions at Garmin. “These new devices remove many of the hurdles fleet service providers face today, making it easier than ever to develop customized solutions for both medium and large, enterprise class customers.“
According to Garmin, the ubiquity of the Android platform makes fleet service providers less dependent on third-party technology companies when developing customized fleet solutions. Providers can easily integrate existing applications from their partners for signature captures, work orders or inspection reports, for example. The interface is customizable and applications and widgets can be added onto the device home screen.
The fleet 660 and 670 hardware is optimized for in-cab use with a dust-proof design, high-sensitivity GPS, extra loud speaker and a sunlight readable, 6-in. capacitive touch screen. A powered magnetic mount allows for removal between vehicles. Through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the devices wirelessly connect to a black box data transponder or other sensors and peripherals, such as a wireless printer or card reader.
The fleet 660 and 670 include the latest navigation technology from Garmin, such as Garmin Real Directions, voice activated navigation, Active Lane Guidance with voice prompts as well as free lifetime traffic and maps. Both devices also feature an integrated gyroscope to record and analyze driving behavior and support Near Field Communication (NFC) for driver and vehicle identification and data synchronization.
The fleet 660 is designed for local-service fleets while the fleet 670 is ideal for commercial long-haul trucking fleets with its trucking-specific functions, such as route calculation based on truck attributes, trucking points of interest, Hours of Service (HOS) logging and International Fuel Tax Agreement Documentation (IFTA).
