There is a growing number of GPS tracking systems on the market. Not all offer the same range of service tough. These vary quite a lot depending on your needs.

Here is a monkey's review of various GPS tracking systems available on the market

1. Car GPS - these are probably the best known type of devices. The biggest names on the market are currently Garmin, Tomtom and Mio, which together hold more than 80% of the market share of car GPS devices. Car GPS's normally come with preloaded maps for a specific country or area. Most new models also offer free map updates.

2. Hiking GPS - Designed for these focus more on geographic features rather than roads (unlike car GPS models). 3. GPS of Bikers are also in great demand. These are typically very resistant models and many come in a weather-proof casing. 4. Boating GPS models. These are specialized models which vary in complexity depending on the needs. They also come with services like weather updates and other sea-specific information. 5. There are many more specialized GPS models that are specifically designed with the needs of specific professions and purposes in mind. For instance, there's been a lot of publicity recently around personal tracking as a way to have a permanent feed Fleet tracking.

Question 1: What are your needs?

Of course, when it comes to shopping for GPS's, your choice will greatly depend on your needs. If you only need a model to fit in your car, then any commercial model should be okay. And you're spoiled for choice as far as car GPS models are concerned.

If however your needs are more specific, such as boating, hiking etc, then you should make sure to compare the different features available before making your choice.

Is the GPS covering the area you intend visiting, do you have access to features like weather services and map updates?

Here are 3 simple questions that anyone shopping for GPS's should ask themselves:

Question 2: What features do you expect?

Of all features, I feel that the presence of map update services is by far the most important. Not all GPS makers offer free map updates. Some require you to subscribe, at a monthly fee, to their service, before letting you download their stuff.

Others, like Tomtom, let you download a free update if it comes available 6 months after your purchase.

You also get a few GPS map providers that let you download maps free of charge.

Most of the most recent models come with a host of more or less useful features: slide show viewers, MP3 players, traffic update services, camera trap warning service, weather update, digital radio. The list is almost endless. There's even a model that comes with digital TV (in case you fancy watching TV while driving).

They say it's called convergence: all the gadgets on you basically have more or less the same nifty features on them: your mobile phone can take digital pictures and play music, while your digital music player is a GPS tracker and can play slideshows.

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