Popular marine app adds ability to stream weather to a chartplotter
OLATHE, Kan. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — February 11, 2015 — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced BlueChart Mobile 2.0, an enhanced version of its popular marine app for iPad and iPhone. In addition to planning and creating routes using the same feature rich and highly accurate BlueChart data found in Garmin chartplotters, BlueChart Mobile 2.0 also adds streaming worldwide weather through a cellular-based iPad or iPhone.
“BlueChart Mobile 2.0 makes planning your day on the water easier than ever by allowing you to stream weather information from your iPad or iPhone to your chartplotter,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “In addition to using BlueChart data to plan and create routes, users now have access to detailed weather information – in the U.S. or abroad – at their fingertips. When you’re ready to go, wirelessly transfer your route to the chartplotter and continue to receive pertinent weather information from the app while you boat.”
Version 2.0 utilizes the same BlueChart g2 data available for Garmin chartplotters. Users can plan and create routes, view shaded depth contours and inter-tidal zones with spot soundings, and can search for a marine service point to find out the phone number, hours of operation, and information about amenities and services available. With BlueChart Mobile 2.0, users will experience the same vector object-oriented data and seamless chart presentation found on Garmin chartplotters. And the intuitive radial menu makes marking waypoints, establishing a destination for a route, and learning about the features on the chart easier than ever.
Whether planning a trip from the comfort of home or navigating the open waters, access to weather data is an important part of boating. BlueChart Mobile 2.0 provides temperatures, dew points, wind direction and speed, radar and cloud cover – all overlaid on the chart data. In addition, version 2.0 can provide weather observations and buoy reports, marine zone forecasts (US/Canada/Europe), land zone forecasts (US/Canada), surface wind forecast grids, sea surface temperatures, surface pressure forecast and sea state forecast. In-app weather upgrades, including infrared clouds imagery, radar imagery, lighting, and StormWatch watches, warnings and advisories, are available at an additional fee.
Once on board, users can wirelessly transfer routes, waypoints and tracks created with the app to a compatible Garmin chartplotter1. To keep an eye on the weather while underway, receive continuous streaming weather updates from BlueChart Mobile 2.0 via an iPad or iPhone directly to the chartplotter2. The iPad or iPhone can also be used to “follow the boat” along its route by wirelessly sharing the GPS location from the Garmin marine network. This capability enables precise GPS positioning, even on iPads that don’t include GPS functionality.
Garmin’s BlueChart Mobile 2.0 app also gives mariners the very best user experience when it comes to taking advantage of ActiveCaptain content. A web-based community, ActiveCaptain provides real-time content for marine data, reviews, local knowledge, anchorages and hazards generated by mariners for mariners. With BlueChart Mobile 2.0, users can use ActiveCaptain data to read and contribute information and reviews about their experiences on the water.
The BlueChart Mobile 2.0 app is expected to be available in the iTunes store in the summer of 2015. The app itself is free to download; additional chart downloads vary in price by region and premium weather features are offered at an additional fee. Current BlueChart Mobile customers are encouraged to log on to their myGarmin account to begin utilizing the enhanced features offered with version 2.0. For more information visit garmin.com/bluechartmobile.
Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability and ease-of-use.
For more than 25 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
1Compatible with the GPSMAP 7400/7600 series, 8x0, 10x0 and 7x1/5x7. Also compatible with the GPSMAP 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8xxx series through Garmin WiFi adapter kit (optional).
2Compatible with the GPSMAP 8xxx series, 7400/7600 series, 8x0, 10x0 and 7x1/5x7.
About Garmin International Inc.
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and BlueChart 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. 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 28, 2013, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available 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.
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