Add another contender to the ring on the iPhone navigation battle - iGo form Nav N Go is going to be hitting the iPhone soon with an adaptation of their familiar operating system. No news on availability and price, but I would expect a Euro release and then a US release later this year.
TeleNav launched an iPhone App at the App store today, offering yet another option for navigating with the iPhone. TeleNav is no stranger to mobile phone navigation, and are offering it as the AT&T Navigator with numerous features, including Text to Speech (Says street names), traffic alerts, gas prices, and Business Listings (10 million), Mid-Route Points of Interest like gas, food and more. Some people may be turned off by the $100+ fee for a similar application, and the TeleNav may just be a decent alternative for you at $10 a month.
The iPhone needs to have the 3.0 Operating system to work. Full Press Release after the jump.....
Wow, that was fast; about a two weeks ago, Navigon announced that they would launch an iPhone App, and now, they just launched a Euro version in the App store. According to the feature set, the capabilities are fairly robust, with the key ability to use if in the portrait and landscape modes, as well as reality view (shown above) where you get to see what exit/turn you should make on major intersections. The application also taps into your contact list to get to saved destinations; no need to re-input "favorites". The Navigon Navigator will pause for an incoming phone call, and you can listen to music while navigating, but according to a couple of users who posted reviews, the application does not pause the music while giving the turn directions which could prove to be a problem.
Available in several languages and dozens of countries - none of which are the US. The Navigon iPhone App uses NAVTEQ maps, but sadly, not traffic. One would hope that Navigon would use the phone's bandwidth to introduce traffic capabilities later on, and potentially a two way reporting as iPhones turn into GPS probes like the Dash Express did. The file size is large at about 1.6GB, with a couple of users reporting that it took over an hour.
With over a million iPhone 3G-S phones sold in the first day of its launch, one can imagine how the phone and its platform will continue to become a very large handset base on which the navigation makers can build. Should be an interesting future with these applications.
The Price is $94, not bad, but it appears to be headed up. On the price, they note that this is "a special introduction price is valid only until June 30th." One can definitely see the capabilities getting more robust and more expensive as time goes on, paralleling the standalone model capabilities.
While not making the huge splash that TomTom did, most likely due to the recent retreat from the US market, Navigon jumped on the iPhone bandwagon yesterday with the announcement that they too will have an iPhone navigation application available very soon after the OS 3.0 launches for the iPhone (in about 2 weeks).
"The package includes well-known functions such as Reality View Pro, Real Roadsign Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant, Day & Night Mode, amongst others, as well as the option of displaying POIs along the route. With this range of functions, Mobile Navigator stands out from its competition on the market - also by the fact that the typical user functions of the iPhone have been implemented seamlessly in order to make navigation using the iPhone and NAVIGON software even more enjoyable. If you turn the iPhone 90 degrees, then the display switches automatically from portrait to landscape view. As well as this automatic display adjustment, and the intelligent address entry, there is also the option of navigating directly to an address from saved contacts. If navigation is interrupted by a telephone call then navigation is resumed automatically after the call has ended."
One option is the LITE Version available for free, with no active route guidance, but with map material and the possibility to display POIs (points of interest) in the vicinity. Another option is the full version, which navigates users quickly and reliably to their destination.
Yesterday at Apple's developer conference, TomTom offered a glimpse into what is to come this summer for the iPhone; a fully operational iPhone navigation solution; powered mount, speaker, and classic TomTom navigation capabilities. No word if there are any plans to offer more sophisticated HD traffic, and connected services like gas price search capabilities.
The move, mirrored by Navigon, puts TomTom in the driver's seat for connected capabilities with their recent GO 740 LIVE launch, the TomTom XL LIVE launch in Europe and now the iPhone launch. It puts Garmin in a tough place with the now delayed launch of the Nuvifone that has them as a competitor to the iPhone. One has to wonder if they are going to support the iPhone or protect their investment in a competitive product and stay away from the iPhone letting the other big contenders fight for leadership in the iPhone platform.
I would expect that this application and customized mount to come at a steep price; a lot more than the $0.99 - $9.99 that people seem accustomed to for applications on the iPhone. More later this summer. More at TomTom
New Safari Browser GPS Aware for Next Gen iPhone Software
Word has it that the new Safari browser on the next release of the iPhone Software is going to be GPS aware; not a big surprise but it opens up a world of possibilities for websites to generate Location Based Services for mobile phone use. A lot of applications are location aware, asking already if you want to allow that program to use your location, well this will open up websites to the possibility of gathering your location and showing you information for you, now, where ever you are standing.... restaurants, stores, directions, and maybe even ads. We'll see.
AT&T Navigator (TeleNav) Gets Frost and Sullivan Award
AT&T Navigator was recently named Best Consumer Navigation Application of the Year by Frost & Sullivan for its feature rich capabilities, and ease of use. The Speech Recognition data entry, text to speech, millions of Points of Interest, Gas Prices, and ability to navigate while overseas, are just a few of the capabilities that make it a powerhouse.
"AT&T Navigator has set the pace in the industry with an evolving and comprehensive set of capabilities," said Jeanine Sterling, research analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "As a best-in-class solution, it provides advanced features that offer far more than just navigation and mapping functionality."
The AT&T Navigator is powered by TeleNav, the makers of the Shotgun connected GPS, and where you can get your own subscription to navigation capabilities on your smartphone.
Waze is trying to change how people think and interact with their navigation device, by getting citizen mappers and traffic spotters out there to help generate an accurate view of the road network, traffic conditions and accidents. The Waze platform sits on your smartphone and anonymously sends information back about your location, speed, allowing you to "report" on your travels. With enough users, the platform can become highly accurate and allow for the most up to date information.
Waze announced that they are starting a public Alpha today and will open it up to a beta test later this year. The program is available only for the Android family of phones, and wil soon be available for the iPhone (now you're talking!). It's pretty ambitious to do all of this on a smartphone, but they have a history of success in Israel where they started.
"waze launched its first mobile application in Israel, where it has been downloaded by more than 80,000 commuters and is the fastest-growing navigation application in that market. Within less than a year the community created the entire navigable map from scratch, and real-time traffic information reached approximately 90 percent coverage and over 85 percent 'estimated time of arrival' accuracy. waze has tens of thousands of daily commuters in Israel, using it several times a day to receive optimal traffic-aware routing to their destination for free."
CTIA Wireless Show - More GPS Navigation on Phones
The CTIA wireless show opens in Las Vegas tomorrow, and it is already spawning news of new handsets, new applications and appears to be a hotbed of innovation for all things wireless. Now, more than ever there is a strong current of momentum behind wireless phone GPS navigation.
Garmin is launching the Nuvifone later this year; no doubt about it this thing navigates.
Phones with navigation applications certainly aren't new, with TeleNav offering the capability on numerous phones, and companies like Verizon offering the application for a small fee per month directly from them.
For me, more than anything, it's the ability to have a larger format screen that makes it viable, and the recent onslaught of smartphones, the iPhone included, that offer some reasonable amount of real estate to see the map and directions seem to be making that vision of navigation on a phone a viable reality.
Engadget has posted a quick story and more importantly a video on the iPhone, presumably while they were getting driven around for a first hand look at the Nuvifone. In the video, Jessica Myers, the Garmin PR specialist offers a quick overview of its capabilities, including their stated intent of targeting location based services with the phone. Quick tap to find local events, and then another to add them to your calendar. You can also elect to time, date and location stamp your emails..... cool addition.
Similar to Garmin's easy to understand Nuvi interface, the Nuvifone will have three main icons; Phone, a "Where to?" type button, and the Web Browser. The interface allows you to flick through a rotating menu of other application/features like a stock ticker. The unit auto-rotates from portrait to landscape in all situations, but most importantly when in the navigation screen. If you've ever been typing on a smaller unit, you'll be thankful that Garmin has included predictive text in the design to help you get through those tough typing situations.
Nokia has released the Nokia 6710, and is talking about its navigation capabilities as a primary feature of the unit, as they leverage their NAVTEQ map investment that they made to buy the mapping company. Nokia already "got it" from a location aware and location based services standpoint, which undoubtedly pushed them into the purchase, but we now have the push into navigation handsets like never before; consumers want it and the technology is more than capable to deliver.
With automotive and pedestrian modes combined with the advanced map content like aerial photos, 3-D buildings and traffic alerts, the unit gets pretty appealing. The 6710 Navigation unit has a 2.6-inch screen (small compared to the 3.5-inch standard GPS unit), outdoor optimized QVGA screen, runs on the 3G/GSM and features A-GPS to get faster satellite fixes.
The Garmin Nuvifone was announced today with a lot more detail than we have seen on the Nuvifone, offering a glimpse into how the unit will perform. Garmin certainly is working to figure out the phone, the navigation and the other location based services that are enabled by the GPS capability.
The Nuvifone will have full navigation capabilities (of course), including turn-by-turn voice promoted turn commands. On top of that, the maps and Points of Interest are pre-loaded, and with internet search, you'll probably be able to find everything under the sun.
Teh Nuvifone will be running a windows operating system and as such will be using ActiveSync to sync up your Outlook, or photos. The 4GB or 8GB models should be available and will be capturing life with a 3 mega pixel camera that of course can tie to the location of where you took that shot.
Google Latitude - Your Big Brother is Watching You
Google Latitude is a new product from Google that allows you to let friends and family see your location, so that your big brother really could be watching you; whoever has access to the software and who you give permission to watch where you are.
The latitude software downloads onto your compatible phone (currently BlackBerry, Sybian based systems and of course the Andriod based Google Phones - not the iPhone yet) and allows you to share your location with others who have the Google Latitude software. Once loaded and sharing, the software offers to see your location on Google Maps, and chat or SMS with that friend starting directly from the Google Maps application.
More on the Nuvifone - "Several Nuvifone Models in 2009"
Garmin is hooking up with Asustek to work on a wider array of mobile phone offerings in the market. Not a surprise to hear that the Nuvifone is coming to the market, but what is interesting here is that the companies are already collaborating on multiple handsets ahead of the initial launch of the Nuvifone. It makes sense that Garmin would introduce several models eventually (just look at the broad line of GPS devices). This also starts to lay the groundwork for Garmin to be the OEM navigation application in a wider array of offerings.
Press release follows:
Garmin Ltd. and ASUSTeK Computer today announced a strategic alliance that will leverage the companies' navigation and mobile telephony expertise to design, manufacture and distribute co-branded location-centric mobile phones. Garmin and ASUS have already begun joint development on a diverse mobile phone product line, which will be known as the Garmin-Asus nüvifone series. The companies expect to bring to market several Garmin-Asus nüvifone models in 2009, and a new Garmin-Asus nüvifone model will be announced at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain, February 16-19, 2009.
iGo for the iPhone - Coming Soon
Continue reading: 
Mailing List
Subscribe - RSS
