Bluetooth is one of the most important communication technologies nowadays, being used in a wide array of applications, including here GPS devices. And that's the type of device we'll talk about as follows, namely the PT2500 Bluetooth GPS Navigator, released back in the first half of 2004, a device that allows each Bluetooth-enabled portable computing system to be turned into a GPS navigator.



The Bluetooth GPS Navigator includes a GPS receiver with a Bluetooth transceiver for wireless communication with the mobile device without the messy cables (communicates with the host platform via the Class 2 Serial Profile). All the users have to do is simply place the GPS receiver on the dashboard and receive accurate GPS data on the Bluetooth-enabled device to help them navigate to the desired destination.



The high capacity lithium ion battery will power the Bluetooth receiver for up to 11 hours between charges. A blue LED indicator flashes when searching for a Bluetooth connection and glows solid when connection is established. Furthermore, the device provides a high level of versatility, since the iGPS-500 Convertible GPS Receiver design allows users to employ one GPS receiver for multiple configurations (i.e. CF, PCMCIA with adaptor, USB, sync cable, and Bluetooth).



The device from Pharos works with just about any type of NMEA compatible software, but, as expected, the manufacturer recommends its own Ostia navigation and routing software. All of these are possible due to the included SiRF Star III GSC3f chipset (12-channel all-in-view tracking), which provides quite a good level of accuracy, of around 10 meters in autonomous mode and less than 5m in SBAS mode.



The Pharos Bluetooth GPS Navigator retails for around 250 US dollars, which is not exactly a very small price, but it's worth it, taking into account just how useful this device could prove to be on the long term.