Magellan Unveils Android GPS Device, Adds Fleet-Management Features

SAN DIEGO — Magellan unveiled a new Android-based GPS truck navigation device and announced new fleet-management capabilities for its products.

The new Android device, the Magellan RoadMate RC9496T-LMB, features a 7-inch multi-touch display and comes with a serial port, dash mount and black-box cable.

The device comes with a new application, Magellan Android Fleet, which provides fleet-management services such as hours-of-service reporting, fuel-tax reporting and automatic on-board recording device capabilities, as well as messaging and estimated-time-of-arrival protocols.

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The Fleet application is also available separately for use on other “fleet-ready” Android devices.

In addition, Magellan is also offering the new Fleet features for its existing RoadMate 5190T-LM commercial truck GPS device, which uses the Windows Embedded Compact operating system and has a 5-inch touchscreen display.

The navigation devices can also pull in information from Magellan’s cloud-based platform to deliver real-time alerts on traffic, fuel prices and weather.

The company demonstrated the new products at American Trucking Associations' annual Management Conference & Exhibition, held here Oct. 4-7.

Magellan also announced its new Magellan Fleet Manager desktop tool, which enables back office staff to manage bulk software and map updates for the devices.

“Magellan is focused on making the lives of fleet drivers, owners and office personnel as safe, accurate and efficient as possible,” Thomas Rasulo, Magellan’s director of business development for fleet sales, said in a statement.

Magellan said the new RoadMate RC9496T-LMB will be available in the fourth quarter through retailers in the United States and Canada and online for a suggested retail price of $399. The RoadMate Commercial 5190T-LM GPS is now available for a suggested price of $330.