News: Garmin Discontinues Their iQue PDA Line

Image Source: Garmin

Garmin has officially discontinued their final two Palm OS-based handhelds with integrated GPS functionality. Garmin's PDA line has been dying over the last few several years as the company shifted its focus from standalone GPS navigators to add-on mapping software partnered with a Bluetooth GPS receiver (such as the GPS 10).

The Garmin iQue 3600a, the specialized aviation version of the original iQue 3600, has also been discontinued, based on a link on their website.

I remember when I first saw this product at an airshow and was so excited that a big company such as Garmin was getting behind aviation PDA technology. I think their failure to capture the market came from three main areas.

1) Other Software - There is a great collection of aviation software solutions made for both the Palm OS and Pocket PC platforms by other companies around the globe. This software can be purchased and then installed on any existing PDA that can be purchased and supported by a local electronics store.

2) Integrated GPS Systems - We all know about the GPS296, GPS396, and GPS496 portable models. These all have great exposure in the market and are used by many pilots everywhere. So in a simple answer, I think the GPSx96 portables cannibalized the iQue PDA market. These integrated units were stable, portable, and well known by the industry.

3) Training and Support - The other main reason I think that people were reluctant to purchase the PDA models was simply because they did not feel they had the support. You got to pilot shops around the country and you will see the GPS396 and GPS496, but never have I seen a Garmin iQue. So the adage out of site out of mind applies here. People were slightly afraid that they could get stuck and their friend with the GPS396 would not be able to help them.

For whatever reason, I still think this is sad as a die-hard Palm OS user for many, many years I really hate to see it when another company calls it quits. I hope that others (all listed on this site) will continue to develop great solutions for all of us to use.

Source Non-Mobile: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=278#

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