Hot Market for PNDs vs. Foreseen Revenue Flattening

So, the big question everyone wants to know here at the Navigation USA 2006 conference is ‘will personal navigation devices continue to grow in popularity or will they morph into some other consumer electronic device’ like as someone said yesterday "the device formerly known as the cell phone." For sure, everyone agrees…the market researchers (JD Power, Gartner), the device manufacturers (Motorola, Panasonic), and the value added sellers (DaimlerChrysler, Magellan)...this is a hot market. But many expect the revenue from PND’s to flatten after 2010. Cell phones are much more ubiquitous and the demand for "other" functions on the device is causing some concern. Everyone is waiting for the "killer app" that will extend the life of the PND. My take…security is the killer app. Why do people buy cell phones? Security…not to talk necessarily…but the peace of mind that comes with carrying a communication device…just in case. So, look for location-based security apps as a developing market…MyTornadoWarningAlert. Ok…these exist today from the web, but can you get them on your phone? For anyone who is using CAPs…the Common Alerting Protocol…used by the USGS, I’d like to hear from you.