Poll: Female Drivers Love GPS

Behind the field service set, it turns out the early adopters of GPS technology aren't geeky engineer types, but regular female drivers. A recent poll shows that women use the technology to provide a level of comfort when driving in new or unfamiliar areas.GPS makes sense for any business that maintains a fleet of service vehicles. Being able to track the whereabouts of company trucks, as well as provide drivers with turn-by-turn directions, helps to reduce costs in a number of ways. Some include lower fuel bills, reduced time between appointments, and a certain level of comfort with managers who have a better view of their workers' location throughout the workday. But field force managers aren't the only ones looking for some comfort.

A poll recently conducted by GPS technology provider TeleNav showed that having GPS by their side makes 60% of women feel safer when they have to drive into places they haven't previously been. Another 45% admitted to becoming lost when driving in new areas.

While standalone GPS units certainly work, they tend to be a pricey option for standard consumers. Many of the wireless carriers now offer navigation services as part of their mobile offerings and often provide just as robust an experience for consumer and enterprise customers alike.

"GPS navigation on mobile devices is a simple and convenient way to eliminate frustrations and security issues associated with getting lost while traveling," said HP Jin, CEO of TeleNav. "With GPS available on an increasing number of mobile handsets worldwide, drivers can now reach for their phone and have instant access to a full-featured GPS service, steering them in the right direction within seconds."

Though the poll only reflected the responses of female drivers, I'm sure a similar poll of male drivers would show that only 1% admit to becoming lost. If that.