Sunday, March 18, 2012

Garmin nuvis with lifetime map updates (LMU) hit market

Garmin nuvi LMU

UPDATE: It looks like the next round of Garmin lifetime map units, due fall 2010, will bear the LM and LMT suffixes.

UPDATE 2: LM and LMT pages on GPS Tracklog:

Garmin has quietly expanded the number of units bundled with lifetime map updates. These were first spotted at Costco a couple of months ago, but they are now making their way into the broader market. You may see them listed as LMU (lifetime map updates) or as models with nuMaps Lifetime Map Updates. Here are the ones we are aware of and some places we’ve seen them:


About Rich Owings

Rich is the owner, editor and chief bottle-washer for GPS Tracklog. Connect with him on Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

Comments

  1. Dan says:
  2. Rich Owings says:

    Thanks Dan. I updated the link.

  3. Max Bramel says:

    Old item, but this seemed like as good a way as any to pass along a musing to you…

    I was looking at some attractively priced moderately new GPS models that have a few features to entice me to step up from my Nuvi 255w. However, my lifetime maps subscription has become a substantial obstacle to my upgrade. Since the subscription stays with the old GPS, I would have to buy a new subscription (if I wanted one) for the new GPS. I doubt that Garmin intended it this way, but in my mind this adds another $120 to the purchase price of any replacement for my old unit. Since I’m a bit of a bottom-feeder by nature, it’s a significant factor.

    I think Garmin would do well to allow me to transfer the subscription for a fee–perhaps half the price of a new subscription. Bundling may be a solution, too…the first link I tried above looked like good value.

    • Rich Owings says:

      Not sure how much this helps, but you can usually pick up a nuMaps Lifetime card at Amazon for $75-80. Still pricey, but not as bad as getting it straight from Garmin. I imagine they only have so much flexibility, since NAVTEQ licensing is involved, but I do see the disincentive.

  4. Trudy says:

    I purchased the Garmin nuvi 265W from HSN because of price and that free lifetime Map updates. Please tell me this is very true.

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