GPS Online Connectivity on the road

The Global Positioning System that helps us navigate the highways was a brilliant idea. So brilliant that industry watchers at ABI Research Inc. in New York say there will be 900 million such devices in use worldwide in another five years.

But many GPS devices aren't very bright. Yes, they can tell us how to get where we want to go - but not much else. Travelers need lots more information - the latest traffic conditions, for instance, or the weather.

Such data is easily available over the Internet, but that's not much use when you're rolling down I-93 or 401 unless you've got a GPS with a wireless communication system. Then you can tap into those databases for real-time information on the road.

A growing number of GPS devices have gone online. We tried out three: the Dash Express from Dash Navigation Inc.; the Go 930 from TomTom International BV; and the Nuvi 780 by Garmin Ltd.

The Dash Express, cheapest of the three at $399, lacks some of the attractive features of the other two. For instance, the Go and Nuvi have FM transmitters, so they can relay their spoken driving directions over your car radio. They also have Bluetooth technology.

But the Dash leads the pack when it comes to Internet integration. Users pay $12.99 a month to subscribe to the Dash online service. Now you can add new maps and software upgrades, or punch in your favorite addresses, by logging onto the Dash website.

The Dash Express contains Wi-Fi networking. Just bring it within range of your home hot spot and turn it on, and the software upgrades install themselves. It also has a built-in cellular modem that works in most parts of the United States and downloads information as you drive. It gets the latest traffic data, warning when there's gridlock ahead.

Some of the traffic data may come from fellow drivers. Dash uses anonymous information about your car's speed and location to map traffic on the road you're driving. This data is relayed to every other Dash user in the area. Dash says this will enable its service to provide much better real-time traffic data. Dash also lets you search for your destination through the Yahoo Internet service.

The Garmin Nuvi 780 costs $749, nearly twice as much as the Dash Express. In exchange, you get a much more compact unit, not much bigger than a full-sized iPod. The Nuvi also has FM radio and Bluetooth features, an MP3 music player, and access to the Audible audiobook service, for an additional subscription fee.