Mio A701 GPS doubles as a cell phone

Getting a cell phone that can double as a PDA is nothing new, but this is the first time that I’ve seen a company that normally specializes in GPS devices produce a unit that has full tri-band GSM/GPRS cell phone functionality. The Mio A701 is being showcased at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, and it functions as a SiRFstar III GPS receiver, while at the same time, it has the ability to make and receive mobile calls with the best of them.

The 2.7-inch TFT screen is excellent, especially considering that they’ve even integrated a 1.3 megapixel camera into the package as well. You’ll be able to connect via Bluetooth, and expand the 192MB of on-board memory via SD/MMC cards. The user interface seems clear and easy to use, with access to restaurant and entertainment locations at the touch of a button. You can even send your location via SMS to your friends, complete with GPS coordinates.

The Mio A701 is currently being sold in Europe for €549 ($660), with a version that includes Mio Maps for €100 ($120) more. American and Asian releases should be forthcoming.