Mio quietly releases $250 C220 in-car GPS unit

One would think that a manufacturer releasing a sub-$250 GPS unit with a 3.5-inch touchscreen would want to make a little bit of noise about this attack on the low-end market, but not only did Mio fail to make a peep about launching the new C250-like C220, it didn't even bother do up a press release as far as we can tell. Thanks to eagle-eyed Jason who found this pretty powerful little unit on the Circuit City site, though, we finally have the full specs on a device which first peaked its head out a few months back: SiRFstar III, 400MHz Samsung CPU running Windows CE 5.0, 256MB ROM / 32MB RAM, 1200mAh rechargeable battery, and MioMap 3.3 navigation software with TeleAtlas maps loaded up onto an SD card. According to the good citizens of the 'City, the C220 also "tells you the likely locations of fixed speed cameras (speed cameras) and the likely locations of mobile traps, with free updates for a full year from the time you register," but Mio's US site makes no mention of such a service (or the C220 at all, for that matter), and only European countries are listed on the company's German Speedcam database. But hey, what can you really expect from such an entry level system, or from a retailer which just fired all the good people who knew anything about its products?

[Thanks, Jason A.]

[PEZ @ Apr 9th 2007 8:51PM]

Maybe the reason you didnt fine a press release is because you couldnt read a foreign language.

[darkman131 @ Apr 9th 2007 11:57PM]

they've had the c310x available for 199 at fry's forever.

[Ian Jardine @ Apr 9th 2007 8:49PM]

So it's sold in Circuit City, but gives maps only for Europe?

[Nick @ Apr 10th 2007 1:54AM]

Any idea on the version of maps this unit has? My C310x is rocking the same old 1.5 year old maps. It would be nice to see an update sometime in a year considering the only thing this does concerns maps...

[longtime e reader @ Apr 10th 2007 3:11PM]

Dear Evan,

I am the writer at circuitcity.com responsible for virtually all of the GPS products that go up on our site, including the Mio C220. Thanks for bringing this possible error to my attention – I’m researching it now and will correct it if necessary.

Part of writing for CC.com is to maintain the highest integrity. We’re only allowed to take information directly from the manufacturer – no amazon.com, no Crutchfield, etc. I got the information for this particular product from Mio’s European site, because as you note in your blog, it’s the only information available (and as a mfr. site, acceptable for me to use).

The site does not mention different versions for the US and Europe. There may be, which is why I’m looking into it. But since there was little reason for me to suspect, I posted the C220 product highlights as you currently see on our web site.

Writing for a major CE retailer means I handle a lot of products. In addition to GPS, I am responsible for the rest of the mobile categories as well. In order to get my work done, I must maintain a balance between pursuing my product information to the furthest extent, versus getting my products online. Most of the time, I have no reason to judge mfr. product information as incorrect, incomplete or erroneous, which means I use it for my own product descriptions. The unfortunate result of this process is that sometimes mistakes on the mfr.’s web site or materials will make it into my own copy.

Where I take issue with your blog is that despite slamming the accuracy of my own writing, you don’t hold yourself to the same standards:

“But hey, what can you really expect from such an entry level system, or from a retailer which just fired all the good people who knew anything about its products?”

Reading a single official press release would have provided you with the facts regarding this situation. First, the people that were fired were overpaid store associates. The web site is run from the corporate headquarters in Richmond, and we didn’t lose a single person. Second, I’ve been writing GPS here for almost 2 years. That doesn’t make me immune from mistakes, but I’m hardly a rookie.

I was relying on the information that I could find. You apparently didn’t look for any at all. Hypocrisy might make a cute punch line at the end of your blog… but it’s hypocrisy all the same.

[Clay @ Jul 9th 2007 6:03AM]

I recently bought a MIO C220 at the CC store in Richmond while in the States, now I am back home in Italy, and I would like to use the unit at home as well.
I read on MIO's FAQ that since I have a US C220 unit maps should be bought in the same region or through their web shop.
I am interested on the italian map for my US MIO device, any chance to buy it at your CC store??
(I could not find it on the CC web page)
Thanks for your help on this subjec
Clay

[peter @ Apr 10th 2007 3:35PM]

anyone know if it has text-to-speech capability? Can't find it...

[eon @ Apr 23rd 2007 9:42PM]

"The web site is run from the corporate headquarters in Richmond, and we didn’t lose a single person."

That's right. CC didn't fire any of their 'overpaid' Corporate suits.

They just fired peons.

Thanks for clearing that up.