GPS maker DeLorme has teamed up with SPOT, maker of satellite safety systems, to design the Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator. The system marries GPS handheld capabilities with emergency and nonemergency messaging. The two units function together wirelessly. The GPS is WAAS-enabled and waterproof. It saves 100 routes and 1,500 waypoints per file with no file limit to its 3.5GB internal memory; the unit also supports SD cards. It comes with NOAA nautical charts but also supports Navionics cartography. The SPOT comes with SOS, Help, CheckIn/OK, Custom Message, Facebook, Twitter, Geocaching.com and SPOT Adventures features. DeLorme has priced the system beginning at $549.95. SPOT subscriptions start at $99.99 a year. Visit delorme.com or www.findmespot.com.
