Garmin Opens Code for Developers
Garmin Embraces Third-Party Development
May 29, 2007
GPS World
GPS technology giant Garmin is opening its technology to third-party developers.
Today the company took the wraps off the Garmin Developer Web site for software developers and content providers who want to make their Web sites, applications and data content compatible with Garmin navigation systems. The Garmin Developer site provides both free and licensed Garmin resources and a library of application programming interfaces (APIs), toolkits and Web services offering six core products: Garmin Communicator Plugin, MotionBasedWeb Services, Content Toolkit, Garmin PeerPoint Messaging System, Garmin LBS Toolkit and Fleet Management Interface.
"Until recently, third-party Web sites have been unable to communicate easily with Garmin devices," stated Charles Morse, Garmin's director of mobile and PND marketing. "We are making it easier for third-party content providers to leverage the huge community of Garmin devices by providing tools that will allow them to communicate directly with Garmin systems. This will create new markets for the programmers' content and services, while generating a grassroots movement that will spread Garmin's name and technology to consumers through third-party Web sites and content distribution channels."
The Garmin Communicator Plugin API is a browser plugin and JavaScript support code that allows developers to transfer location data such as waypoints, track logs, maps and points of interest (POI) to and from a Web site and Garmin device. This will simplify loading location data to a Garmin GPS unit, according to the company.
For example, on MotionBased.com, customers can quickly upload their activities in the form of track logs from their GPS devices. The cross-browser, and soon the cross-platform plugin, provide a consistent experience for MotionBased customers. Geocaching.com also integrates the plugin so that users can easily transfer selected geocache coordinates to their Garmin devices by clicking a new Garmin icon on the Geocaching.com site.
Also available in Garmin Developer is the Content Toolkit, which lets developers compile secure POIs for Garmin GPS devices. Developers can then market this content to customers of Garmin products, creating an entirely new system of content, devices and customers, Garmin says. It expects future versions of the Content Toolkit to include routes and travel guide information.
With the PeerPoint Messaging System, developers can utilize Garmin's location message format and send precise latitude and longitude information to phones running the Garmin Mobile XT application. Garmin anticipates that this published SMS interface will be sought after by location-based Web sites, fleet management systems, sales management applications and other applications that need to integrate remote destination sending and navigation. The individual who receives the location message will be able to save, view or route directly to the specified location with Garmin's turn-by-turn directions.
Developers can also use the Garmin Location-Based Services (LBS) Toolkit to add location-based services to any Java-based mobile phone application. The LBS Toolkit incorporates Garmin navigation API, local search, real-time content delivery services and mobile advertising delivery services into one platform. This service was originally launched in late-2006 and several third parties have already taken advantage of the capability.
Also available for smartphones, Garmin Mobile Smartphone provides mobile applications running on Windows Mobile or Palm OS devices with access to GPS information, interactive maps and intelligent routing including live traffic conditions. With these tools, developers can easily create LBS solutions for a wide range of Palm OS and Windows Mobile devices that are often already in use by enterprise customers, according to Garmin.
The Garmin Fleet Management Interface enables fleet tracking, messaging, dispatch and navigation directly on Garmin's portable navigation devices, such as the StreetPilot, Nuvi and Zumo series. Utilizing third-party sensor and communication devices, companies can track GPS-based information like vehicle location, speed and direction of travel, distance traveled, and elapsed time, as well as fuel status, idle times, number of stops, cargo door access, cargo temperature, and battery and thermostat levels. The Fleet Management Interface also enables direct-to-driver communication via text messaging, as well as instant re-routing with new-destination message prompts, the company says.
Garmin is also announcing the MotionBased Web Services API, which gives developers access to the same GPS content that MotionBased.com customers enjoy. This new service will enable third-party Web sites to store, manipulate and display Garmin GPS data with little or no development. The API will be available for testing in the summer of 2007 and will complement the Communicator Plugin API.
posted by Robert W. @ 6:32 AM
