'Smart' Car GPS Units Talk to Each Other (and the Internet)

Most makers of in-car GPS devices offer the ability to update maps and other data via a connection to your personal computer and the Internet. But manufacturers are pushing the technology to the next level, toward real-time, on-the-road connectivity that can give you up-to-the-minute information, especially about traffic backups and alternate routes.

The Dash Express GPS navigator, launched recently by startup company Dash Navigation, Inc., based in Sunnyvale, California, takes real-time connectivity to a new level. But the big players, Garmin and TomTom, are competing in the real-time info market as well.

Dash says its device is designed from the "ground up" to be a truly connected GPS. The Dash Driver Network, for example, lets Dash Express units communicate with each other to provide real-time traffic speeds and to flag slowdowns. Dash Express also connects to the Internet via cellular and yes, WiFi networks and accesses local data via Yahoo Local Search. Watch for a review here soon, including comparisons of Dash with other makers' real-time services.

Photo © Dash Navigation