| January 5, 2005
Garmin® Keeps Athletes in ‘Optimal Zone’ with Forerunner™ 301
LAS VEGAS/January 5, 2005/PR Newswire — Garmin International Inc., a
unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today introduced the
Forerunner 301,
the latest addition to the company’s lineup of GPS-enabled fitness
products. The Forerunner 301 takes the popular form and function of the
Forerunner 201
and adds a digitally coded heart-rate monitor and several innovative
features to create a highly integrated personal training system that
provides the user with very accurate speed, distance, pace and
heart-rate data during a particular workout. Further, the Forerunner
301 package includes the all-new Garmin Training Center™, a powerful
PC-based software application for enhanced planning and performance
analysis.
The product was unveiled at the 2005 International Consumer
Electronics Show, where it was honored with a 2005 Innovations Showcase
Design & Engineering Award in the Personal Electronics category.
“The Forerunner 301 is the ultimate fitness companion for elite
athletes and weekend warriors alike,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s
director of marketing. “The Forerunner 301 is the first fitness device
that simplifies the process of planning, performing and analyzing
multiple activities like running, cycling, kayaking and cross-country
skiing. It also learns your anaerobic threshold and helps you stay at
your optimal heart-rate zone to meet personal training goals.”
The Forerunner series integrates an easy-to-read display, ergonomic
wristband and embedded GPS sensor. The integrated design, intuitive
operating logic and innovative features of these products give the user
highly accurate speed, distance and pace information in a single device
that is compact, lightweight and waterproof.
For this product, Garmin selected a proven heart-rate monitor that
provides digitally coded data link. The benefit of digital coding is
that it eliminates the cross-talk interference and it delivers real-time
heart-rate data exclusively to the user’s Forerunner 301.
The Forerunner 301 is the first fitness device to optimize cross
training by providing extensive personal customization, allowing the
user to create advanced workouts and segmenting data for deeper analysis
of multiple sports like running, cycling and others. Customizing the
Forerunner 301 is achieved by using several innovative features,
including:
- Auto Lap™: Records lap data at configured
intervals
- Auto Pause™: Pauses the lap timer when users
exceed the top or bottom limits of their configured pace
- Virtual Partner™: Depicts a digital runner
(desired pace) in relation to the user’s real-time pace for solo
training and setting personal records
- Auto Scroll: Cycles through data pages during a
workout, so the user can view relevant speed, distance, pace and
heart-rate data without pushing buttons
- AutoLearn™: Calculates the user’s anaerobic
threshold and adjusts heart-rate zones, so the user can train at his
or her optimal performance level to reach personal fitness goals
The Forerunner 301 is also a highly flexible device. If users want
to use the Forerunner 301 as a traditional heart-rate monitor to measure
workout intensity, they can do so easily by switching off the GPS
sensor. If they want a quick workout while on a camping trip, the
Forerunner 301 has a navigation mode that allows them to mark their
campsite — so they don’t get lost in the process.
Though the Forerunner 301 is a self-contained personal training
system, it is bundled with the PC-based Garmin Training Center — a
totally new software application that helps users plan and analyze
workouts. This application enables users to create their own workouts
or utilize workout templates from the experts at TrainingPeaks.com,
which can be downloaded into the unit for any level of personal
training. It also offers interactive analysis tools that allow the user
to chart their performance and view their composite speed, distance,
pace and heart-rate data on an electronic map of the world. Garmin has
also formed a partnership with MotionBased.com to provide Forerunner 301
users with unique Internet-based performance analysis and mapping tools
for GPS and heart-rate information.
Other specifications of the Forerunner 301:
- GPS: 12 parallel channel GPS receiver for 99
percent distance accuracy
- Weight: 2.75 oz.
- Display (WxH): 1.5” x 0.9”; 100 x 64 pixels on
FSTN display with LCD backlighting
- Physical size (WxHxD): 3.3” x 1.7” x 0.7”
- Lap memory: 5,000 laps (up to two years worth of
lap data)
- Location, elevation, and heart rate storage:
25,000 data points
- Advanced workout storage: 200 workouts
- Battery: Rechargeable internal lithium ion
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours (typical use)
- Water resistance: IEC 60529 IPX7 (submersible to
one meter for up to 30 minutes)
Specifications of the digitally coded heart-rate monitor:
- Physical size: 11.7” x 1.3” x 0.4”
- Elastic strap length: 12.6” to 25.2”
- Weight: 1.55 oz.
- Transmission range: 35.4” to 43.3”
- Battery: CR2032 (3 volts at 180 mAh)
- Battery life: 18 months (typical use: 1 hour/day)
The Forerunner 301 is expected to be available in January 2005 at a
suggested retail price of $324.98 and includes a digitally coded
heart-rate monitor, AC charger, USB PC interface cable, extension strap,
Training Center CD, owner’s manual and quick-reference guide.
Garmin International Inc. is a member of the
Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) group of companies, which designs and
manufactures navigation, communication and information devices — most of
which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin is a leader in the general
aviation and consumer GPS markets and its products serve aviation,
marine, outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless and OEM applications.
Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal
subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United
Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom.
or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin is a
registered trademark, and Forerunner, Training Center, Auto Lap, Auto
Pause, Virtual Partner and AutoLearn are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or
its subsidiaries.
Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements
regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Any statements regarding the
company’s product introductions and expected product availability dates
are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events discussed in
this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as
a result of risk factors affecting Garmin, including (but not limited
to) risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 27, 2003 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form
10-K can be downloaded from
www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html
Forerunner 305
Forerunner 301
Forerunner 205
Forerunner 201
Forerunner 101 | 
