Au Revoir - Sony abandons the European GPS market

[Darren]

ViaMichelin aren't the only big name GPS manufacturer to feel the pinch of competition and hang up their GPS boots. Sony have now confirmed their intention to abandon the European GPS market in 2008 and discontinue their existing offerings.

Sony's presence was always questionable. They entered with the NV-50, a lacklustre model that was poor in comparison with it's competitors and hampered by a GPS chip-set that was outdated in comparison with SiRFIII. Even their recently released units offered little other than a brand name to persuade buyers.

Although Sony deny they are discontinuing GPS business they have confirmed they will not be introducing new models in Europe and will be discontinuing existing product this year which amounts to the same thing. The US will however continue to be a market for their U-Nav range although it is receiving less than inspiring user reviews.
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Darren Griffin

[Brickie64]

Just out of interest, does anyone have any figures showing portable vehicle GPS sales by Brand in the UK or Europe over the last year or so ?


Gav
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"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible"

Garmin Nuvi 3598 + GO 720 (+USA Map Card) + NavFree for iPhone in case all else fails ;-)

[Darren]

I doubt you'd ever see that data collated in a single source. You will only see sales overall collated by groups such as Canalys.
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Darren Griffin

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