Hewlett Packard (HP) showed off its iPaq rx5700 and rx5900 series Travel Companions, two navigation devices that double as high-end PDAs, in Paris on Tuesday. The devices will go on sale across Europe in mid-November, a week or two after their U.S. launch, company officials said.HP wants users to see the devices as GPS terminals first, and PDAs a strong second, said Jeremy Werner, iPaq product manager for HP France. That’s why buttons to activate some of the PDA functions have been tucked away in a groove running around the side of the device, he said.The high-end model will be known as the rx5935 in France. Its 2GB memory will hold a digital map of Western Europe and the TomTom 6 navigation software, leaving around 1.2GB free for users to store their data, Werner said. It can download map updates using its built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi interface. The rx5935 will sell for about 499 euros (US$629) including value-added tax.The low-end module, called the rx5720 in France, has no Wi-Fi interface and only 1GB of memory. It will include a digital map of France, leaving about 600KB free for user data, Werner said. It will sell for about 399 euros including value-added tax. Both models have a Bluetooth interface, allowing them to connect to the Internet through suitably equipped mobile phones, and run Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 5.0 software. The device gives new meaning to finding a contact in your Outlook address book, Werner said: A link between Outlook and TomTom International’s software will help users navigate right to a friend’s house.Built-in software in the rx5935 makes use of the Wi-Fi connection to provide travelers with up-to-date exchange rates for the currency converter, and local weather forecasts for up to four days ahead, he said. In France, the devices will help drivers who are breaking the speed limit by warning when they approach known police radar traps—while monitoring their actual speed and warning them if they go too fast. Speed is one of the biggest drivers for GPS sales in France, said Werner, because devices that detect the signals sent by radar traps are illegal in France, while GPS devices that warn of their locations are allowed.HP is also showing the devices this week in London, Milan and Munich.-Peter Sayer, IDG News Service (Paris Bureau)Related Links: Ceatec: Sharp Translator Help Tourists HP Spying ScandalCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content case study Toyota transforms IT service desk with gen AI To help promote insourcing and quality control, Toyota Motor North America is leveraging generative AI for HR and IT service desk requests. By Thor Olavsrud Dec 08, 2023 7 mins Employee Experience Employee Experience Employee Experience feature CSM certification: Costs, requirements, and all you need to know The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification sets the standard for establishing Scrum theory, developing practical applications and rules, and leading teams and stakeholders through the development process. By Moira Alexander Dec 08, 2023 8 mins Certifications IT Skills Project Management brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe