Google Maps Navigation: Doom For GPS Manufacturers?

Oct 28 2009, 10:50am CDT | by Robert Evans

Can you think of any product you'd be happy to pay hundreds of dollars AND a monthly fee for if an equally good version was available for free? No? Then you can understand why the announcement of Google Maps Navigation is a bad thing for GPS makers like TomTom and Garmin. GMN, which is currently in beta, will feature turn-by-turn voice directions.

And, like all Google products, it's going to be 100% free. This means that, in the very near future, you'll be able to get turn-by-turn navigation on your smartphone at no extra cost. The software will also feature 3D views, automatic routing, and voice direction input. This means that, on the fly, you'll be able to ask your phone to, say, direct you to a gas station that's along the route you're already taking.

GMN will be connected to the Internet, which allows it to account for things like street closures and traffic. It also comes with the option of using satellite view in order to help you navigate complex directions and look for points of interest. So far, Google Maps Navigation sounds like an incredible tool. The fact that we'll be getting it for free almost seems wrong.

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

What Others Say about This

Popularity of Group Listening Slipping Away?

According to Read Write Web, the popularity for NY startup Turntable.fm may have peaked. The music startup created a group listening and virtual DJ app and after its May 2011 launch, several other similar services were created and it became a big trend. ...
Full article at: NYC Convergence More like this 1 hour ago

And the award goes to…

When Beatportal first profiled Skrillex, back in November, 2010, nobody knew much of anything about the guy. He came from a hardcore band, apparently—not that anyone in the electronic scene knew anything about that. He’d just dropped his debut EP on Dead ...
Full article at: Beatportal More like this 1 hour ago

How Pinterest Can Benefit Your Small Business

Learn which social media tools are best for your business, whether or not you should buy Facebook fans and much more. At first glance, Pinterest seems like just yet another social media site. The neatly-designed grid allows users to "pin" and "like" visu ...
Full article at: American Express Open Forum More like this 2 hours ago

Don't miss ...

Technology News

Solar Powered Clothing: The Future of Mobile Charging...

Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.