Part of the appeal of Tiger Telematics subsidiary Gizmondo's eponymous gaming handheld is its global positioning system (GPS) chip. This unique feature aims to let the device integrate location and navigation services into compatible games and more traditional navigation applications.

The company contracted MapInfo Envinsa to provide core functionality for Gizmondo's GPS services. As a result, Gizmondo—currently launching in the United Kingdom and due this Spring across Europe and the U.S.—will offer location-based mapping, routing, and geocoding capabilities.

MapInfo CEO and president Mark Cattini asserts location-based services technology "offers many of the added services that will help make Gizmondo so compelling ... We are providing the consultancy, customization and training for a platform that will support hundreds of new applications limited only by imagination.”

Initially, location services will fall into two categories: added value services for the end user - such as ‘where am I?’ and ‘find the nearest’ – and services that enhance personal safety, such as tracking and panic button features. These will be supplemented in time by location-based gaming and other services, surely a disappointment to those eager to see how games integrate the heavily hyped feature.

More on Gizmondo
Gizmondo, the gaming console, is part of what Jupiter Research defines as "hybrid" devices. Other handhelds in this category include TapWave's Zodiac and Nokia's N-Gage smartphones.

Gizmondo runs on Microsoft Windows CE.NET and is powered by a Samsung ARM9 400MHz processor that incorporates a 64-bit graphics accelerator. It boasts a smallish 2.8-inch color screen.

The handheld can also serve as a MP3 music player, MPEG4 movie player, and a digital camera. Users can send multimedia messages over a GPRS connection that also allows for wide area network gaming. This lets you play games against other Gizmondo owners worldwide.

Integrated Bluetooth lets you play games wirelessly too, except in this case the players are in the same room. 64MB of on-board storage comes courtesy of M-Systems' mDiskOnChip solution. And a Secure Digital slot delivers memory and peripheral expansion.

Gizmondo has announced several agreements to distribute its gaming console around the world. It is already shipping in the United Kingdom, and is due to hit the United States and other areas over the course of this year. When Gizmondo does ship in America, it should go for between $300 and $400.

GPS
A GPS receiver gathers pulsed signals from as many of the two dozen or so GPS satellites orbiting the earth as it can lock in. Using triangulation -- by measuring and comparing the travel time of individual signals -- the receiver calculates its position, and it's accurate to within twenty yards or so. Location services can also be integrated into cellular-based products