Motorola launches A780 GPS enabled mobile

Motorola heads for GPS with its new handset

24 August 2005 12:31 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Motorola has announced the A780 for Europe, its first mobile phone with built-in satellite navigation. The enhanced flip phone with integrated GPS receiver and large colour touch screen aims to provide full-featured satellite navigation.

Part of Motorola's growing line of Linux-based handsets, the A780 comes equipped with CoPilot Live navigation software from ALK Technologies and maps from NAVTEQ. The on-board maps provide street level detail as well as other useful information such as a comprehensive database of house numbers, hotels, airports and tourist attractions.

The Motorola A780 comes ready to use with maps of the UK & Ireland. European travelers can also benefit from maps of Western Europe which are available to purchase. The maps utilise the Motorola A780's expandable TransFlash™ memory which houses a 256MB card.

Built on an open Linux&Java platform, the A780 can also accommodate a vast number of applications and features — from games to productivity tools.

The A780 can also securely synchronise over-the-air with a Microsoft Exchange 2003 server to enable you to manage your e-mail, calendar, and contacts and stay connected while out of the office.

The phone also comes with Bluetooth, a mini USB port, and quad-band roaming, a 1.3 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom.

Motorola also announced a new clamshelled model called the V360 that will feature an integrated VGA camera with 4x zoom, Bluetooth and Push-To-Talk functionality.

Both models will be available in selected markets across Europe from Q3 2005.