Mio Technology currently has operations in Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Mio Technology is among the world's top three personal navigation device vendors, which also includes TomTom International BV and Garmin Ltd.[citation needed] Currently they make car and bicycle navigation units[1][2] and dashboard cameras.[3]
This model was one of the most popular Mio-branded products, since at its launch in 2006 it was one of the few on the market that combinedGPS functions with a GSM phone.[6]
The C720t is a cumulative development on previous models of Mio Technology. This model has a 2-mega-pixel camera allowing the user to create their own points of interest (POI). The camera takes the picture of the destination and navigates back to it when needed. This camera also has business card recognition software, which detects the card and stores its information in the contacts folder of the device.
Besides the new camera, the C720t comes complete with full media powers (pictures, video, and music), as well as Bluetooth capabilities. Mio provides for over 12 million POI's, more than any other companies at this time (October 2007). Available with this is the Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) which detects and notifies upcoming traffic and helps the driver navigate around it.
Mio S495 LM was launched in 2013 as the mid-top range model for the Spirit series. It comes with Spirit software and maps of all the European countries. The device has the LM extension which means that it can update maps free of charge anytime you need. The S495LM comes equipped with the same Samsung CPU of 400 MHz present in 2012 models as well, and has a working memory of 128 MHz. As for the premium functions of this device it has: TMC, parking assistance and multiple route choice. Maps from the Tele Atlas provider are used which offer great coverage of most European countries but are less detailed in Eastern Europe. For instance in countries such as Romania or the Ukraine some county roads and roundabouts – that have been there for a year or two - are missing.
Mio created a GPS that features the voice of William Daniels, who played KITT in the hit 1980s television show Knight Rider. It has two LED lights on each side that are in sync with KITT's voice. The product was released on 24 September 2008 at RadioShack to coincide with the season premiere of the new Knight Rider series.[7]
