Mio to buy Magellan

[gatorguy6996]

Not much to say here as not much was said.
"
Magellan Navigation, Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Magellan consumer products division to MiTAC International Corp. Closing of the transaction is anticipated in January of 2009. Financial terms are not disclosed.

Recognized as an industry innovator, the Magellan consumer products division is the creator of the award-winning Magellan(R) RoadMate(R) and Maestro(TM) series portable car navigation systems, and the Magellan Triton(R) outdoor handheld navigation devices. The company is recognized worldwide through its Magellan brand."
_________________
Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

[Darren]

Just picked this up on the wires then noticed you'd pipped me to it by quite a way!

Another shock announcement emerged yesterday with news that Magellan Navigation, the Santa Clara based US manufacturer of GPS devices including the RoadMate, Maestro, Triton, eXplorist and Hertz NeverLost ranges has entered into an agreement to sell its consumer products division to the MiTAC Corporation.

Magellan has struggled in the last few years to develop new products and whilst it remains in third place in the US behind Garmin and TomTom it was slipping badly with poor sales of it's latest devices.

MiTAC is clearly choosing the buy out approach in its drive to improve its retail presence having purchased Navman in 2007 and will doubtless hope to take advantage of Magellan's brand name in the US to improve sales of its products. Using a common product line Mio has chosen to capitalise on the use of brand names in its portfolio where they are better placed than its own. In the UK, Navman's logo adorns the device whereas in France it is Mio branded and now in the US we can expect to see Magellan logos on Mio hardware.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[gatorguy6996]

You know what they say Darren: Even a blind hog. . .

Every once in awhile I do bother to check my inbox first thing in the AM I actually have my Admin to thank where I mod, who gave me the heads up.

It's being fairly widely reported that Magellan models will be rebranded as Mio in Europe, just the opposite in North America where Magellan has a greater presence. With MiTac already building several of the Magellan devices, including some of the Maestros and Roadmates, it should be a fairly quick transition.

.
_________________
Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

[toibs]

Lets hope they sort out their support operation then, since any software updates from Mio are sparse to say the least, and to top it off their support leaves lots to be desired....

[gatorguy6996]

If you expect that Magellan support may be better than Mio's, you will probably be disappointed.
_________________
Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

[RobBrady]

Deal now complete - see Magellan press release
_________________
Robert Brady

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!