Navman sells business to Mitac

Neither Navman or Mitac are likely to be known to Joe or Jane Consumer here in the US of A, but the astute Engadget reader or the (foreign) GPS enthusiast has surely read both names many a times over the years. Well, say goodbye to Navman as you once knew it, everybody, because they've sold their GPS biz to Mitac for an undisclosed sum. Just thought y'all would like to know why in a few months you're gonna be begging Mitac for map updates, and not the people at Navman's (former) parent company, Brunswick New Technologies.

[mrmckeb @ Feb 27th 2007 1:55AM]

"Neither Navman or Mitac are likely to be known to Joe or Jane Consumer here in the US of A"

Strangely, they are both known here (Australia), with NAVMAN being equal to TomTom in brand awareness of GPS units. Normally it's us that don't see half the companies in the industry.

[Adam @ Feb 27th 2007 2:46AM]

I can't believe that Navman is not known in the USA, in Australia Navman is used by most consumers as the generic name for a GPS unit.

I work in a major retail store in Australia & I would say 4 out of every 10 people I serve wouldn't even know that there is any other brand of GPS unit, It's like iPods, people ask for a Navman but what they are really saying is I would like a GPS unit.

[tekdroid @ Feb 27th 2007 6:36AM]

hopefully the Navman marketing department will give Mitac a new logo...