I wish I understood all this shit at a time like this, but Fred helps clear it up a little with this post .

Looks like Google has recognized this pie as a monster outside search that it must compete aggressively. I assume they are right and Fred likes what they have done so far.

Trimble, Garmin, Nokia and Tom Tom are all positioned well, but maybe Garmin and it’s mainly hardware products is in the new weakest position.

What’s your thinking?

Disclosure – Long Trimble

The market was pissed. Garmin has now passed on the bidding war and the stock is up $18. Looks like the trend is alive and that big money could care less about them buying Tele-Atlas.

Obviously management has some work on their hands to ensure that they keep the data licenses, but all is clear for the moment. I will be lightening up a few shares once again. The landscape is extremely volatile in GPS as Mobile juggernaut Nokia enters the fray and the market worries about potentially obsolete Garmin units .

Amazing the way Nokia has picked themselves off the floor and put a scare into the GPS leaders with their purchase of Navteq (NVT) (my best stock pick of the year )

Disclosure- Long Garmin

They are telling the big institutions that they are desperate for the digital mapmaking relationships and are willing to pay up to keep them. With Navteq (NVT) now gone to Nokia, obviously Garmin (GRMN) management felt that they were vulnerable.

I am not buying today’s weakness in Garmin’s stock like I did a few weeks ago when it was below $100.

This is a battle that is going to be bloody. The spoils are gigantic. If Nokia gets Navteq, I will probably be a buyer of Nokia.

Disclosure – Long Garmin and Navteq

Disclosure- Long Garmin and NVT

Now Garmin is down over $20 bucks and below $100 on the Navteq/Nokia merger. I am adding some of the Garmin back I sold at $118. Market looks to be panicking here. Nokia could buy Garmin and tie up the whole industry.

I am also ringing the register on more of my long time Amazon holding.

Lot’s of new breakouts that I have been taking lately so it just seems prudent.

Disclosure- Long, Garmin, Amazon, Navteq and Trimble

NVT also now above $70 so it looks like Trimble (TRMB) could have a huge run left in it.

Disclosure – Long GRMN, NVT, TRMB

Microsoft as software is it’s own boring dwindling economy, but Microsoft has the power to make Taser the weapon of choice in law enforcement and legitimize it through the lobbysists.

Garmin is another tech consumer play they can afford and should make to get them in autos and back strong in retail tech.

Dell and Google could be in both these plays as well.

Tom Tom is really pushing but it’s good for everybody .

Hoping for major weakness in my fave names as I have been a seller of late of NVT and Garmin (see last few weeks).

Disclosure – Long Garmin and Navteq

A few things I noticed from today’s show:

1. Nobody really owns GPS units and few people have heard of Garmin or Navteq.

2. Everyone will…soon

3. Lindsay looks great in Lycra

The fact that Garmin has grown to a $20 billion market cap will mean that the big boys will come to share at the trough. Garmin’s stakes have risen. A slip up will be costly. Navteq is in a better situation as many companies must be eying them.

It’s product’s like the Garmin Forerunner that Lindsay is wearing in the show, that give Garmin the early lead. Bijan had a great review of the product last month .

The end game will be decided by FASHION over technology so look for Apple to be a major player in the space before all is said and done.

Here are the Google Finance start pages for both Garmin and Navteq .

Finally, Brian takes a look at the technical picture:

It is tres expensive and always will be. I won’t chase extra stock into this strength but happy I own it and not selling.

As a refresher, here is an oldie but still a relevant goodie from Wallstrip on Garmin (now up 20 percent since we aired it)

Disclosure – Long GRMN, NVT