Revolutionary Digital GPS Travel Guide Launched

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Calabash Technologies LLLP has announced its launch of the Calabash World Explorer™, a hand-held, digital GPS travel guide that is now available for daily rental to St. Thomas USVI visitors.

“The Calabash World Explorer™ represents the fusion of technology and culture. It is a giant leap forward for travelers and it will truly redefine the world of travel”

The Calabash World Explorer™ is different from any other travel guide currently available to tourists. It combines the functionality of a hand-held GPS, audio tour guide, MP3 player, photo viewer, encyclopedia, and a user review form – providing everything a traveler needs to fully experience a destination.

Simple, fun, and easy to use, the Calabash World Explorer™ offers a complete island directory of shops, restaurants, beaches, attractions, activities, and more. Its use of playful icons, a colorful touch screen, professional photos, and captivating audio provides an enjoyable experience that enhances every aspect of a traveler’s vacation. GPS maps and directions ensure that visitors save time by never getting lost and always knowing where to go.

Users gain unique insight into a destination through access to a comprehensive encyclopedia of cultural and historical information. Self-guided driving, walking, and cultural audio tours are available for tourists to experience while they explore. The guide is also packed with audio ranging from local music to interviews with people who live on the island.

Joseph K. Croney, founder of Calabash Technologies, came up with the idea for the Calabash World Explorer™ by combining his passion for technology with his enthusiasm for travel and exploration.

“The Calabash World Explorer™ represents the fusion of technology and culture. It is a giant leap forward for travelers and it will truly redefine the world of travel,” Croney said. “I have heard many travel industry partners talk about how travelers to the Caribbean see each island as the same. To me, this is a tragedy, as each destination has its own unique people, history, and culture to share. One thing that is central to our vision at Calabash Technologies is to give travelers an inside look into what life is really like everywhere they explore.”

Croney said that his personal experience as a sailor and pilot showed him how complicated GPS devices can be to use. In contrast, the Calabash World Explorer™ offers simple maps and directions that require no knowledge of how GPS works.

Calabash Technologies focuses on making sure that the guide is in tune with the local culture. Unlike many other sources of travel information, the Calabash World Explorer™ does not rely on advertising to create its listings of places to visit. Instead, it offers a comprehensive directory of vendors and points of interest.

The content developers and software engineers of Calabash Technologies are continually working to improve the Calabash World Explorer™. They are already working on gathering information on the rest of the Caribbean in preparation for the next phase of launching the Calabash World Explorer™ globally.

Calabash Technologies, a U.S. Virgin Islands tourism technology company, is based on St. Croix. Croney, who is a former program manager from the Microsoft Corporation, founded the company in 2003. While at Microsoft, he led product teams in the MSN, Mobility, and Developer divisions.

For more information about this exciting new product, visit www.CalabashWorldExplorer.com.