Pharos releases new Drive GPS 250 and Drive GPS 150 models

GPS devices and services provider Pharos Science & Applications Inc. has rolled two new models for its Drive GPS line. The Pharos Drive GPS 250 and GPS 150 includes a SiRFStarIII GPS receiver and is compatible with most smartphones on the market today.

While it doesn’t exactly have dual-purpose capabilities like other GPS devices, this specialized device does its job quite efficiently.

Check out the specifications of the new models right after the jump!

GPS devices and services provider Pharos Science & Applications Inc. has rolled two new models for its Drive GPS line. The Pharos Drive GPS 250 and GPS 150 includes a SiRFStarIII GPS receiver and is compatible with most smartphones on the market today.

While it doesn’t exactly have dual-purpose capabilities like other GPS devices, this specialized device does its job quite efficiently. James Chen, Senior Vice President of Pharos, commented on the two new models:

The Drive GPS line strikes the perfect balance of power, portability and price. In these new models, weÂ’ve made our navigation software easier to use with features like text to speech, so our customers can keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic and tricky intersections.

The Drive GPS 250 is priced at US$ 299 and sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen display. It also has automatic night view switching when it detects that the sun has already gone down. The Drive GPS 150, on the other hand, is the entry-level version which includes a smaller 3.94-inch display and is priced much lower at US$ 199.

Both models feature an intuitive navigation software which makes use of voice-prompted directions to redirect any missed turns on your route. So far this service is restricted to the United States and Canada, similar to Pioneer’s exclusive GPS in France.

The Drive GPS 250 includes preloaded NAVTEQ maps of the previously mentioned regions with conveniently placed points of interest such as hotels, restaurants to WiFi hotspots and ATMs. Here are the list of technical specifications for Drive GPS 250 and Drive GPS 150:

• Operating System: Windows CE .net 4.2
• CPU: Freescale MX21 266MHz 32bit microprocessor
• GPS Receiver: SiRFStarIII, 20-channel GPS receiver
• Antenna: Built-in internal antenna
• Internal Memory: SDRAM 64MB
• Dimensions: Drive GPS 250: 4.80″ X 3.31″ X 0.95″, Drive GPS 150: 3.94″ X 3.31″ X 0.95″
• Battery: Rechargeable Li-Polymer 1200mAh. 5-7 hours continuous operation