Alpine Electronics Ships New PND-K3MSN Portable Navigation Unit
Alpine today announced that its PND-K3msn portable navigation system with MSN® Direct is now shipping. The new PND-K3msn enhances the navigation experience on the road by delivering useful information like traffic and weather updates into the car, allowing drivers to make more informed decisions to help them get to their destinations.
With the PND-K3msn, consumers will receive a free three-month subscription to MSN Direct’s continuously updated Smart Traffic information, weather reports, gas prices, movie times, news and alerts, local event information and stock prices (some services available only in select cities where coverage exists). MSN Direct has wireless coverage in 134 metropolitan areas in the U.S. and Canada.
Alpine PND-K3msn
The MSN Direct content is displayed on the PND-K3msn using Alpine’s own graphical user interface (GUI), allowing the content to be delivered in a user-friendly format. For example, MSN Direct delivers current local gas prices to the PND-K3msn, enabling users to sort this data by price and adjust their current route to arrive at the station with the lowest gas price. A user can also utilize MSN Direct to search for movie times via movie title or theater and sort the results by distance or access additional information about the movie, such as a list of actors and critics’ ratings. Additionally, stock information can be customized to match the user’s portfolio, allowing for easy tracking throughout the day.
MSN Direct’s “Send to GPS” feature lets users find addresses, business listings and other locations on Live Search Maps at www.maps.live.com and wirelessly send the information directly to the PND-K3msn from the comfort of their home or office PC. This feature eliminates the hassle of having to re-enter or search for the same location again on the device while in the vehicle. The chosen locations appear on the PND-K3msn in a “Received Locations” menu.
“The PND-K3msn is a powerful navigation unit on its own,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, marketing, Alpine Electronics. “By adding MSN Direct content, drivers are able to get the up-to-date information they need and want easily at their fingertips.”
For example, MSN Direct delivers current local gas prices to the PND-K3msn, enabling users to sort this data by price and adjust their current route to arrive at the station with the lowest gas price.
“The PND-K3msn combines Alpine’s well-known heritage and reputation in high-performance in-vehicle navigation with MSN Direct’s comprehensive set of location-based services,” said Joe Coco, product unit manager of MSN Direct at Microsoft Corporation. “The combination helps consumers save time and money during their daily commute, family vacation or business travel.”
In addition to the extra convenience of MSN Direct, the PND-K3msn’s innovative OnPoint™ Advanced GPS Positioning ensures the moving vehicle stays accurately positioned on the map even in areas where it’s difficult to receive GPS reception, such as in a tunnel, around tall buildings or under heavy foliage. OnPoint simultaneously uses three technologies – satellite-linked positioning data, solid-state gyro sensor technology (to determine the vehicle’s direction) and accelerometer technology (to gauge the vehicle’s speed) – to supply this continuous coverage.
The PND-K3msn offers a full set of features, including:
- Text-to-speech announcements of turn-by-turn driving instructions and street names
- Assistive mapping visuals that offer essential driving information, such as Highway Junction View (which indicates the correct side to use at a junction split) and One-Way Street Icons for clear notification of one-way streets
- 6 million unique Points of Interest (POIs), which include restaurants, hotels, gas stations, movie theaters and grocery stores
- Preloaded NAVTEQ® maps of the United States and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Built-in Bluetooth powered by Parrot, for convenient hands-free phone calls when connected to compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices
- Built-in SD card slot that enables playback of WMA/MP3 music files
- Built-in loudspeaker that allows voice instructions, music and incoming Bluetooth calls to be heard loud and clear
- Customizable map and menu color schemes with eight different color options
Along with searching for POIs near their current location, PND-K3msn’s unique “POI Search Along Route” feature enables drivers to look for places that are on the way to their destination. Unlike other GPS units, the PND-K3msn will not direct the driver to a POI that seems close but may have already been passed, or is out of the way from the original, optimal driving route. The unit also offers the opportunity to interface with a vehicle’s existing car audio system, automatically announcing voice-guided driving instructions and incoming phone calls over the vehicle’s speakers.
Pricing and Availability
The PND-K3msn portable navigation system is available now for $299.95 at participating authorized Alpine dealers in the U.S.
Print this article
Related articles
- Oct 27, 2014
Alpine iLX-007 In-Dash Receiver With Apple Carplay Now Available For $800
Alpine today announces availability in North American markets and introduces the iLX-007, an aftermarket in-dash receiver dedicated for optimum compatibility with Apple CarPlay. The iLX-007 is a mech-less in-dash receiver with a 7-inch capacitive touch screen with a flat-face design.. - Jan 7, 2014
Alpine Debuts CDE-154BT, CDE-153BT, UTE-52BT, CDE-152 and CDE-151 Single DIN Receivers
Committed to premium sound quality products, Alpine today debuted five new single DIN receivers at the 2014 International CES, held Jan. The USB ports allow for high-speed USB connections to the iPod, iPhone or USB drives... - Jan 7, 2014
Alpine Starts PDR Amplifier Line With PDR-M65, PDR-F50 And PDR-V75
Alpine will debut its new PDR vehicle amplifiers at the 2014 International CES taking place Jan. Also available are the Head Unit Power Packs, which are small amplifiers that increase the power of head units to 45W RMS x 4. The KTP-445A is designed for select 2005 and newer Alpine head units, while the KTP-445U version offers the same power boost for virtually any source unit... - Jan 7, 2014
Alpine Announces X009 9" AVN System For Trucks and SUVs
Alpine has shattered all previous notions of what can be done in the dashboard with the debut of the largest Audio/Video/Navigation (AVN) system in the North American aftermarket. “Truck and SUV owners will find that the new 9-inch X009 AVN system takes the large screen concept to an entirely new level with brand new features and thoughtfully designed control keys that match their vehicle,” said Steve Crawford, vice president and general manager, aftermarket business unit, Alpine “The 8-inch AVN system continues to be a great success, as we have given thousands of consumers a large screen aftermarket experience not available from any other aftermarket brand, and we are re.. - Jan 7, 2014
Alpine Anounces New 8" X008U And 7" INE-W957HD AVN Systems
New Audio/Video/Navigation (AVN) systems from Alpine debuted today at the 2014 International CES, taking place Jan. Examples of factory features that can be retained through the X008U and INE-W957HD include: OnStar from GM, SYNC from Ford, factory amplified system, rear seat entertainment system, rear view camera, SiriusXM, and steering wheel controls (retained features and customized vehicle information vary by vehicle model)...
