March is going to be an exciting month if you happen to be into maps, gizmos, and tools that help you get outside. That is the month Trimble begins shipping their highly anticipated TopoCharger phone case. The TopoCharger is many things, most notably it’s one more nail in the coffin of the stand-alone GPS unit. In a nutshell, the TopoCharger is a topographical map app packaged within a hard case with a full-sized backup battery.
The TopoCharger packs a full set of color topographical maps for 49 US states with 18 zoom levels from 1:250K to 1:24K. The maps are stored on a removable chip and sold individually by state. This allows the user to purchase additional chips for other states as needed. The TopoCharger’s app then uses the phone’s GPS chip to convert it into a powerful navigational tool that works even outside the limits of cell coverage. The 1,440 mAh battery doubles the life of the phone’s battery and the case offers modest protection from knocks and bumps. TopoChargers are available for the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5 models. Android users will have access to the maps, but only with Trimble’s current plug-and-play SD and MicroSD cards. $149.00
For more information vist the Trimble TopoCharger web page HERE.
