一份來自ABI調研機構的預測指出，到2013年底，GPS戶外導航產品的年度銷售總額將達到17億美元，此預測數據僅包括戶外手持設備-例如GARMIN的Colorado或Magellan的Triton，以及可供手機安裝的戶外軟件解決方案。“Crossover”個人導航設備（既可用于車載導航也可用于戶外手持）與運動休閑類的GPS產品不包含在內。
ABI調研機構預測，戶外手持設備的年度復合增長率為13%，而軟件類的則為61%。“戶外GPS手持機將持續為戶外GPS市場創造主要的銷售額”，ABI調研機構的高級主任Dominique Bonte說，“高端觸摸屏設備如Magellan的Triton1500和Triton2000以及GARMIN最新發布的Oregon系列，都為用戶提供了更加直觀的操作界面。Triton2000提供了包括數碼照相和錄音的多媒體功能，讓用戶以更多的形式在網絡社區交流自己的戶外體驗”。
專用設備（GPS手持機）在惡劣的使用環境下，所表現出來的優越性能、可靠性、穩定性是促進其市場增長的主要因素。而會聚軟件解決方案（converged software solutions）也基于低價格和實時的連通性得到了快速的發展，Trimble Outdoor、Wayfinder和 Augmentra是這類軟件的提供商。
雖然目前的戶外GPS市場仍然較小，並且GARMIN在這個市場中佔有絕對份額，但市場研究公司仍預計未來基于地形圖的戶外導航將會崛起，新的增長將來自混合解決方案，例如汽車/手持的兩用導航設備、多模式地圖會聚解決方案，以及徒步導航設備。
原文
ABI expects continued growth in outdoor GPS market
An ABI Research study forecasts that outdoor GPS will generate $1.7 billion in annual revenues by the end of 2013. This forecast includes revenue from outdoor handheld devices - such as, for example, Garmin Colorado or Magellan Triton - and outdoor software solutions for mobile phones. “Crossover” Personal navigation Devices (offering both in-car and outdoor navigation) and sport-related GPS are not included in this forecast.
ABI Research estimates the compound annual growth rate for dedicated devices at 13% and for converged software solutions at 61%.
“Dedicated outdoor GPS handhelds will continue to generate the bulk of outdoor GPS revenues,” says ABI Research director Dominique Bonte. “High-end touch screen devices such as Magellan’s Triton 1500 and 2000 models and Garmin’s recently launched Oregon series offer intuitive user interfaces. The Triton 2000 contains multimedia features such as a digital camera and a voice recorder to capture and share outdoor experiences on social networks.”
While dedicated devices offer increased performance, reliability and robustness in adverse circumstances, converged software solutions continue their forward march thanks to lower prices and real-time connectivity, explains ABI. Trimble Outdoor, Wayfinder and Augmentra are among those software vendors.
While the current outdoor GPS ecosystem remains small and heavily influenced by market leader Garmin, the market research firm expects future uptake of topographic maps-based outdoor GPS navigation. This growth to be driven by hybrid solutions such as crossover PNDs and multi-mode mapping converged solutions, as well as pedestrian navigation.