Garmin International Inc. today announced the Garmin Developer website – a developer zone dedicated to software developers and content providers who want to make their website, applications and data content compatible with Garmin navigation systems.
The Garmin Developer website provides both free and licensed Garmin resources and a library of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), toolkits and web services offering six core products: Garmin Communicator Plugin, MotionBased Web Services, Content Toolkit, Garmin PeerPoint Messaging System, Garmin LBS Toolkit and Fleet Management Interface.
“Until recently, third party websites have been unable to communicate easily with Garmin devices,” said Charles Morse, Garmin’s director of mobile and PND marketing.
The Garmin Communicator Plugin API is a browser plugin and JavaScript support code that allows developers to transfer location data – such as waypoints, track logs, maps and points of interest (POIs) – to and from a website and Garmin device.
The benefit of this service to the retail consumer is that the API will simplify loading location data to a Garmin GPS. For example, on MotionBased.com, customers can quickly upload their activities (track logs) from the GPS. The cross-browser, and soon the cross-platform plugin, provides a consistent experience for MotionBased customers. Geocaching.com also integrates the plugin so that users can easily transfer selected geocaches (waypoints) to their Garmin device by clicking a new Garmin icon on the Geocaching.com website.
"The Garmin Communicator Plugin API has made it possible to transfer cache listings to a Garmin device directly from a web page,” said Jeremy Irish, Groundspeak’s president and co-founder. “This plugin drastically simplifies the process and saves time that is better spent on the trail."
Also available in Garmin Developer is the Content Toolkit, which lets developers compile secure POIs for Garmin GPS devices. Developers can then market this content to customers of Garmin products, creating an entirely new ecosystem of content, devices and customers who are eager to expand the capability of their GPS device.
Examples of POIs that could be developed are locations with free wi-fi access, historic marker sites or safety camera locations. Future versions of the Content Toolkit are expected to include routes and travel guide information.
Garmin Developer was announced in conjunction with the 2007 Where 2.0 conference in San Jose, California, and will be on display at the Garmin booth (#3).
Additional information about these applications and the Garmin Developer website is also available at http://developer.garmin.com