Thales Navigation, a global provider of GPS solutions including the Magellan consumer line and Thales Navigation professional GPS products, introduced the first ever full-color handheld GPS receiver. Currently available exclusively through Sharper Image retail outlets, and more widely available in the spring, the Magellan Meridian Color is the new flagship handheld of the Meridian series. The company says the Meridian Color is feature-packed, with a built-in 16 MB map database that contains information for travel by land and water. "With the ability to view maps in vivid color, we've added a whole new dimension to the navigation experience," said Lonnie Arima, Thales Navigation vice president of worldwide consumer sales and marketing. "With the introduction of the Magellan Meridian Color, consumers gain the most advanced handheld navigation solution available and Thales Navigation secures yet another first, which strengthens our position as a leading innovator in the development and advancement of GPS technology." According to the company, delivering a 16-color, 120 x 160 pixel backlit display, the 8-ounce, pocketsize Meridian Color provides users with a view of built-in maps, including highways, major roads, parks, waterways, airports, cities and marine navigation aids, such as fixed and floating buoys, obstructions, wrecks, lighthouses and marinas. In addition, the Meridian Color's optional external antenna provides boaters and recreational vehicle owners with a more reliable navigation solution for safer travel. The company claims the Magellan Meridian Color is designed for a comfortable fit in the hand, rugged durability and advanced functionality. The 12-parallel-channel receiver's quadrifilar helix antenna provides superior tracking of satellite signals and fast position fixes to show users their exact location within three meters or better. Customers can see their position on seven user-configurable navigation screens, including a moving map. With the touch of a button on the backlit keypad, customers can save their favorite locations. Meridian Color stores up to 500 waypoints, 2000 track points, and 20 reversible routes with 30 legs so users can find their way back to a particular place. Meridian Color ships with a PC cable, user manual and carrying strap. Optional accessories include vehicle, bike and swivel mounting brackets, assorted power and data cables, a canvas carrying case and Magellan MapSend software containing street maps, topography and travel data for the U.S., Canada and Europe. Other products in the Meridian series include the Meridian Platinum, Meridian Gold and Meridian Marine. For additional product information and dealer locations, visit www.magellangps.com or call 800-669-4477. About Thales Navigation Thales Navigation is a developer and manufacturer of positioning, navigation and guidance equipment with operations throughout the U.S. and Europe. Thales Navigation markets its Magellan brand GPS solutions in the consumer electronics, recreation, and automotive markets, and its Thales Navigation GPS and GNSS professional products in the survey, GIS/Mapping, and OEM markets. Thales Navigation, headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is a subsidiary of Thales, a professional electronics company headquartered in Paris, France, with activities in aerospace, defense and information technology and services. For more information, visit www.thalesnavigation.com.