RSSThe first Garmin phone pairs location with connectivity
By Tim Conneally | Published January 31, 2008, 3:08 PM
Consumer GPS company Garmin has announced for the third quarter of 2008, its first entry into the cellular handset market: the nuvifone (with a small "n").
It's Garmin's first entry into the broader smart communications device market, adding mobile Web browsing, data connectivity, and personal messaging to the company's trademark personal navigation functions.
Users of other Garmin products will immediately recognize the user interface, which upon powering up, shows three icons: "Call," "Search," and "View Map." This is similar in nature to Garmin's "Where to?" and "View Map" screen found on many of its other popular nuvi devices.
The Nuvifone appears to be most at home while docked in a vehicle. There, it defaults into GPS mode, activates the navigation menu, and switches to hands-free calling.
Pre-loaded with maps and points of interest in North America and Europe, the nuvifone accepts searches for location by name, address, or category. It is also Garmin's first device to include Google local search capability, which utilizes rich Internet location data such as user reviews and ratings. Real-time traffic, fuel prices, weather conditions and more information are also featured with the Garmin Online service.
There's also an intriguing entertainment function: Its camera automatically geo-tags photos with latitude and longitude reference coordinates, which can then be shared through Google's Panoramio. Searching through photos on the site offers users a better idea of unfamiliar locations.
Though there is no carrier yet announced for the nuvifone, Garmin's device is already the buzz of the gadget community today. The company will be showing it off at 3GSM in Barcelona, Spain on February 11.
There is already a number of phones with similar features made by ETen and Mio to name the few. Basically a phone with dedicated GPS chip like SirfIII. But those phone ship with Windows Mobile -- it looks like this phone comes with proprietary software which means increased prices for consumers to add any features. It also means there will be no useful applications for it for a long time.
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|I hope Garmin goes far with this device, I have a Garmin Navigator which is a must have for the amount of driving that I do. Its amazing to witness something that surrounds us nowadays, which is convergence... Navigator, Phone, Camera, (Mp3?), Browser. The only thing missing now is a garage door opener icon. I also hope that Garmin goes broad with signing carriers, and not just locks down to one.
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|I would like to see a flush glossy touch screen instead of recessed but you never know what the final producr will look like.
I hope AT&T signs on for this phone.
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|While a glossy touch screen looks good, it sure does show the fingerprints. So you have your trade offs either way you go. I do hope AT&T gets it. I used to be on CellOne, but AT&T bought it up. I am holding on to my unlimited plan until forced otherwise lol.
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|Now that is cool. I currently have a Nuvi and I absolutely love it. It is absolutely priceless whenever you are trying to get around in the metroplex.
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|I defininely like this idea. I may have to get one of these but I'm sure it will be around $1200. I use my nuvi all the time at home but especially when I'm out of town in a place like L.A., which I don't know my way around at all.
The last time I was there, I tried to get from LAX to Hollywood :) Hills with a Budget Rental car map. I have since bought the smallest nuvi they make and haven't looked at a map since.
We were on vacation at Portofino Bay last year and the Garmin was worth it's weight in gold as I had all of my stop point pre-programmed in the favorites. The hotel, airport, everything. It would be cool to have a phone that does everything, but where is the MP3 player? No mention of that at all.
I just updated my Blackjack to WM6, they added live streaming TV and a mapping software but it's not real time GPS with a moving map. It also shows slight bends in the road as a turn. It pretty much sucks.
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|The iphone wouldn't get me to consider switching carriers. This might!
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