GPS units leading consumers to local discounts
Owners of Garmin's Nuvi 350 personal travel assistant GPS unit are now able to receive customised special offers and coupons through a plug-in provided by Entertainment Publications Inc., which is using the GPS system to deliver locally relevant discounts to consumers based on their actual location.
Entertainment Publications (EPI) partnered with GPS provider Garmin International Inc. to provide discount offers for users of the Nuvi 350 (a combined GPS navigator, MP3/audio book player, language translator, and travel guide), using its database of discounts as a software plug-in. EPI describes the end result as a "geo-coded coupon book".
Savings on the spot Entertainment's subscription-based discount programme, called SaversGuide, provides access to over 45,000 discounts from participating businesses across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For example, users can save up to 20% on dining, shopping and services (up to a maximum value of US$25 per redemption), and up to 50% at participating hotels.
According to Terry Clark, executive vice president for EPI, the GPS-enabled version of the company's coupon book means that consumers can be given offers they can use in their immediate vicinity, and their GPS navigator even guides them, turn-by-turn and step-by-step, to the merchant's door.
Retail package The Garmin SaversGuide plug-in comes packaged in the form of a pre-programmed SD data card, with a programme membership card that can be used for discounts at any participating merchant.
EPI is an operating business of InterActive Corporation, which also owns brands such as Match.com, Lending Tree, Home Shopping Network, Expedia.com and Ticketmaster. Garmin's GPS range includes aviation, marine, outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless and OEM applications.
For additional information: · Visit EPI at http://www.entertainment.com/pmd · Visit Garmin at http://www.garmin.com