Summary
Lowrance has been a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high-quality sportfishing SONAR and Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping instruments for more than 50 years. Lowrance has established a global distribution network, encompassing more than 1,500 domestic dealers, distributors, mass merchants and original equipment manufacturers in the U.S., as well as sales distribution outlets in 53 countries worldwide. Additionally, Lowrance maintains its own sales force in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, with product distribution centers located in the U.S., Canada and Australia. With 50 years continuous manufacturing experience, Lowrance designs products that provide the ultimate in high-performance features at highly competitive prices.
Lowrance's SONAR products graphically display underwater information (bottom contours and structure, schools of baitfish, individual game fish, thermoclines, etc.) and are used primarily by sport fishermen as fishfinders, and by recreational boaters as navigational and safety devices. Its GPS+WAAS mapping products are used by boaters for navigation, as well as by hunters, backpackers, RV enthusiasts, pilots and others to locate their positions precisely (to within 10 feet at select WAAS coverage areas of the U.S.) and to record up to 1,000 waypoints (favorite spots) in a unit's memory and return to those locations at any time in the future. The U.S. Department of Defense's elimination of Selective Availability (SA) within its constellation of satellites during 2000 instantly increased the worldwide accuracy levels of Lowrance GPS products by 10-times. In combination with the more recently installed Federal Aviation Administration's Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), positional accuracy, particularly in the southern hemisphere of the U.S., has been enhanced even more.
In 1957, Lowrance introduced the world's first sportfishing SONAR instruments capable of locating individual fish. And after five decades, the emphasis at Lowrance remains on quality and technological innovation. Lowrance's role as a leader within its industry is evidenced by the development of the first transistorized and portable SONARs; the first SONAR systems capable of high-speed performance; the first marine electronics to use microprocessors; the industry's first high-resolution, monochrome, Film SuperTwist liquid crystal displays; and development of the patented Skimmer® transducer, providing up to 60 degrees of underwater fish detection coverage, and operating at boat speeds up to 70 mph.
In 1988, Lowrance introduced the first fully waterproof SONAR/Loran-C combination units featuring all Loran-C circuitry and software contained solely in the antenna coupler module. In 1991, Lowrance introduced Advanced Signal Processing (ASP) in all liquid crystal graph (LCG) products. ASP constantly monitors sources of interference and automatically adjusts the unit's many settings to ensure the best possible picture under any conditions. In July, 1991, Lowrance introduced GPS products which incorporated Rockwell GPS technology. These products offered superior performance to competitive units and breakthrough prices.
In 1995 Lowrance introduced the GlobalMap® 2000, the world's first LCD product to offer integrated GPS, mapping and sonar capabilities in one unit. Together with Lowrance's IMS SmartMap® cartridges, the GlobalMap 2000 revolutionized inland boating and fishing and strengthened Lowrance's presence in coastal markets. In 1996, Lowrance introduced the industry's first 12 channel hand held GPS sold for less than $200. Also in 1996, Lowrance introduced its first aviation GPS unit to private and commercial pilots.
Lowrance introduced a significant number of products in 1997 with advanced features and dramatically enhanced LCD resolution with up to 240 vertical pixels. 1998 also marked another Lowrance milestone with the introduction of the first GPS units capable of using internal flash memory to download detailed customized maps from a CD-ROM.
In 2000 Lowrance introduced a "new generation" of SONAR and GPS/mapping products. These LCX liquid crystal units actually outperform their legendary paper graph ancestors. The top-of-the-line LCX-16ci SONAR/GPS combo was presented with prestigious "Best of Show" Award at ICAST 2000.
During 2001, Lowrance announced an entire new family of SONAR and GPS-mapping products in totally new compact case designs. These great models, in combination with the delivery of 4 sleek new pocket-sized, hand-held iFINDER® GPS mapping products in 2002 rounded-out one of the most impressive lines of Lowrance products in the history of the brand. In the fourth quarter of 2002, Lowrance announced more than 15 new models...from entry-level fishfinders to dual frequency models to large-screen and mega-screen color combos.
During fiscal 2003, 18 new Lowrance products began shipping. The LCX-104c received special industry recognition during the New Product showcase competition at ICAST 2003. A selection committee, comprised of key industry writers, chose the LCX-104c as the winner of the "Best in Marine Electronics Category" Award. Lowrance also received the "Manufacturer's National Champion" Award from Cabela's® for the Marine Electronics Category. Even more gratifying was the knowledge that the selection was based on the unanimous voting of the Cabela's® National Walleye Team, a group of highly skilled anglers and SONAR/GPS users.
With a notable increase in the number of GPS-mapping instruments, Lowrance also expanded its mapping software product offerings during fiscal 2003. In addition to its popular MapCreate CD-ROM mapping software, which allows users to create unlimited, high-detail, custom mapping from CDs and download the maps to digital media cards for display in their units, Lowrance also began shipping its all-new FreedomMaps preprogrammed, "plug-&-play" electronic charts during fiscal 2003. Fifteen individual mapping cards afforded total coverage of the U.S. Plus, three high-detail European FreedomMaps provided full coverage of Germany, France and Great Britain. Canadian FreedomMaps, as well as additional European coverage were released throughout fiscal 2004.
For fiscal 2004, Lowrance announced a total of 21 new products...from an all-new monochrome and color Marine (M) Mapping Series to new high-resolution, 5" diagonal, 480x480 pixel SONAR and SONAR/GPS mapping units and their dual-frequency counterparts, to new stand-alone GPS+WAAS mapping units. Lowrance, in 2004, produced 2 new compact, 256-color, IceMachine fishing packages...the X67c SONAR only and the M68c s/map SONAR/GPS combo. Loaded with every important feature and accessory most ice fisherman need, these products held strong appeal for the northern ice fishing market. Rounding out the extensive 2004 product line were 3 new hand-held and portable GPS+WAAS mapping models, including the iFINDER® Pro hand-held and the AirMap® 500 and AirMap® 1000 portable aviation GPS-mapping products with unique new aviation displays and navigational capabilities.
The Lowrance brand has continued to expand with the success of the multiple award winning iWAY® automotive GPS family as well as marine radio and radar products.
Lowrance presently offers the most comprehensive range of sonar and GPS products available from any one manufacturer for use in outdoor recreation and aviation. Lowrance's mailing address is 12000 East Skelly Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128 USA. |
Press Releases
Lowrance Announces New Outback GPS Handheld
January 22, 2009 Tulsa, OK (Link)
Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics and GPS navigational systems since 1957, announced today the Outback, its next generation, touch-screen, easy-to-use handheld GPS. The highly adaptable, cost-effective GPS product in Lowrance?s new Endura handheld line up*, the Out&Back provides extensive expansion capabilities for the outdoor enthusiast. Preloaded with a sophisticated base map and offering multiple mounting choices and downloadable mapping options, as well as support for shared web community content and plug-and-play micro SD cards, the Out&Back offers an economical, yet completely scalable, solution for adventure sport-minded individuals.
Smartly designed for easy, out-of-the-box use, the Out&Back?s straightforward menu makes navigation simple. Its large color transflective touch-screen allows for easy viewing and operation, and its pre-loaded mapping content with detailed hill shading, topographic contours, primary roads and key Points of Interest (POI) provides accurate and realistic situational awareness. Out&Back is also easy to customize, including a recording option that saves trails and routes allowing quick recall or sharing, a geocaching application compatible with Geocaching.com and power standby to conserve battery life as well as provide ultra-fast startup. The Out&Back supports Lowrance?s full range of optional mapping content including Fishing Hot Spots® and Lakemaster® charts, as well as national and international maps, and sport-specific content. Like all Endura handhelds, the Out&Back accepts public domain files and community-based content such as GPX trails, routes and general outdoor POIs.
?The Out&Back handheld GPS provides outdoor enthusiasts with a savvy, comprehensive navigation tool at an affordable price,? said Jens-Thomas Pietralla, president and CEO of Navico. "With its tremendous expansion capabilities and access to community content, the Out&Back is fully customizable to provide enthusiasts the exact support they need whatever and wherever their outdoor adventures take them.?
The Out&Back GPS handheld?s compact yellow housing with rubberized armoring provides a comfortable grip. Its user interface is optimized for ease-of-use and features both touch screen and keypad functionality. The device measures 5.1-inch high x 2.3-inch wide x 1.1-inch deep (130mm x 60mm x 31mm) and weighs a scant 5.8 ounces (165 grams) without two AA batteries. The handheld device includes a high-resolution 2.7-inch color touch screen display, micro SD slot with up to an additional 32GB of storage for mapping cards, mini-USB port for power and data cables (USB-to-mini USB cable included), cigarette lighter adapter and a reinforced attachment loop. The Out&Back and all Endura systems are protected by a one-year limited warranty.
Price & Availability:
The Lowrance Out&Back GPS has an MSRP of $229.99 U.S. and will be available for purchase in May 2009 through authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors. For more information on the Out&Back, the complete Endura line and compatible mapping products, visit www.lowrance.com/Endura, or call 1.800.324.1356 in the USA or 1.800.661.3983 in Canada.
* The Lowrance Endura line consists of three innovative touch-screen GPS handhelds for the outdoor market: the flagship Sierra ? the most powerful and complete out-of-box GPS experience available, the Safari ? the most versatile navigator for any outdoor experience, and the Out&Back ? setting a new standard in affordability and ease of use.
AccuTerra is a GPS mapping product provided by Intermap Technologies
Lowrance Announces Sierra Outdoor GPS HandheldLowrance Announces Sierra Outdoor GPS Handheld
January 22, 2009 Tulsa, OK (Link)
Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics and GPS navigational systems since 1957, announced today the introduction of Sierra, its next-generation handheld GPS. Featuring touch-screen operation, a high-accuracy 3D digital compass and barometric altimeter, the Sierra provides sensor-enhanced navigation and better situational awareness capabilities than other products on the market. Preloaded with high-detail outdoor maps and fully functional right out of the box, the Sierra is the flagship of Lowrance's new Endura line of handheld GPS devices*.
Designed for versatility, Sierra provides never before seen expansion capabilities. The device contains 4GB of internal memory and provides a micro SD expansion slot supporting up to an additional 32GB of storage for mapping, pictures and MP3 audio files. The pre-loaded content includes Intermap's AccuterraTM high-resolution topographic maps, extensive outdoor trail networks and Points of Interest, as well as the NAVTEQ® road network for the contiguous 48 states with an upgrade option for full-featured turn-by-turn navigation. In addition, Lowrance offers a full range of optional mapping content including Fishing Hot Spots® and other national and international map content. Fully customizable, the Sierra accepts many public domain files and community-based content such as GPX trails and general outdoor POI's.
"The Sierra handheld GPS is the product that premiere outdoor enthusiasts have been waiting for," said Jens-Thomas Pietralla, president and CEO of Navico. "With detailed on-board mapping, tremendous expansion capabilities and access to community content, the Sierra is equally suited for hiking, mountain biking, hunting, backpacking and geocaching, as well as cycling, snowmobiling, off-roading, paddlesports and skiing."
The Sierra offers a user interface optimized for ease-of-use featuring both touch-screen and keypad functionality. Fully waterproof to the IPx7 standard (submersible), the compact Sierra offers a comfortable grip and steel-blue housing with rubberized armoring. The device measures 5.1-inch high x 2.3-inch wide x 1.1-inch deep (130mm x 60mm x 31mm) and weighs a scant 5.8 ounces (165 grams) without two AA batteries. The handheld device includes a high-resolution 2.7-inch color touch screen display, mini-USB port for power and data cables (USB-to-mini USB cable included), and two reinforced attachment loops. The Sierra is protected by a one-year limited warranty.
Price & Availability:
The Lowrance Sierra GPS has a suggested retail price of $549 U.S. and will be available for purchase in May 2009 through authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors. For more information on the Sierra, the complete Endura line and compatible mapping products, visit www.lowrance.com/Endura, or call 1.800.324.1356 in the USA or 1.800.661.3983 in Canada.
* The Lowrance Endura line consists of three innovative touch-screen GPS handhelds for the outdoor market: the flagship Sierra - the most powerful and complete out-of-box GPS experience available, the Safari - the most versatile navigator for any outdoor experience, and the Outback - setting a new standard in affordability and ease of use.
AccuTerra is a GPS mapping product provided by Intermap Technologies
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