Source: The New York Times

By JENNA WORTHAM and MIGUEL HELFT

Published: October 28, 2009

A screenshot shows Google's new mapping navigation.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — GPS navigation devices were the latest must-have tech toys just two years ago, and shares of device makers like Garmin and TomTom were soaring.

That didn’t last long. In a turnabout that has been remarkably swift even for the fast-moving technology business, those companies have suffered as competition has pulled down prices — and as more people have turned to their cellphones for directions.

In the latest blow to the business, Google announced a free navigation service for mobile phones on Wednesday that will offer turn-by-turn directions, live traffic updates and the ability to recognize voice commands. The service will initially be available on only one phone, the new Motorola Droid, but will be expanded to more phones soon.

In a briefing on Tuesday in advance of its announcement, Google said that the service might be supported by advertisements in the future. That would make driving directions the latest form of information to shift from being a paid service to one that is ad-supported.

“This is consistent with a certain pattern of Google, where they are able to build volume and usage of a product and then subsidize it with advertising,” said Greg Sterling, principal of Sterling Market Intelligent, a research firm. The losers, he said, were companies like TomTom and Garmin, along with the cellphone carriers, which offer navigation services by subscription.

Eric E. Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, said that he didn’t view the new service as hurting an industry. Instead, he said, it is a boon to consumers, made possible by the increasing power of smartphones and the growing ubiquity of Internet access.

“Obviously we like the price of free, because consumers like that as well,” he said.

But analysts say that if successful, Google’s service could chip away at sales of stand-alone GPS devices and the subscription services offered by cellphone carriers.

Sales growth for those devices is already slowing. In 2007, global shipments of stand-alone navigation devices grew a hefty 131 percent from the year before, according to data from the research firm In-Stat. But the firm predicts that shipments will grow just 19 percent this year from 2008, and a price war has hurt the industry’s profits.

“With a free alternative that is just as good, I don’t see much positive growth for the likes of TomTom, Navigon or Garmin,” said Dominique Bonte, director of navigation research at ABI Research. “If it’s free and a good service, why would you pay for something you can get for free?”

Google’s announcement also reflects a broader shift toward consolidation in the gadget world.

The smartphone is already the Swiss Army knife of the digital age, able to transform into a camera, music player or game machine at the swipe of a finger. Now it is increasingly a navigation device too.

Many people still prefer dedicated GPS devices, which tend to display maps faster since the data is typically stored in the device rather than downloaded over a wireless network. But the list of smartphone shortcomings is shrinking. Smartphone users can download applications that offer spoken directions and live traffic updates. And at $100 to $300 apiece, smartphones are competitively priced with GPS units, which average about $177, according to the research firm NPD Group.

By 2013, phone-based navigation systems, which are already more popular among younger smartphone owners, will dominate the market, according to a recent report from Forrester.

The makers of navigation devices have not ignored the spread of smartphones. But Google’s move could make it harder for them to adapt.

TomTom, based in Amsterdam, introduced a $100 navigation application for the iPhone in August. The company said the program had been downloaded close to 80,000 times. Garmin recently released the Nuvifone, a hybrid of a navigational device and a cellphone that has generally received poor reviews.

“Turn-by-turn navigation on a handset is what we’re been doing with the Nuvifone,” said Ted Gartner, a spokesman for Garmin, which declined to release sales figures for the phone. “Google’s announcement reaffirms that consumers want their smartphones to double as a navigation device.”

Julien Blin, principal analyst at JBB Industry, called Garmin’s phone a “desperate move,” adding: “The Nuvifone is around $300, and you can get an iPhone for a comparable amount that can now do the same thing.”

Shares of both TomTom and Garmin plummeted Wednesday after Google’s announcement. Garmin’s shares fell 16 percent to $31.45 on Nasdaq, while TomTom’s shares closed around 21 percent lower on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

Google’s navigation service, which for now works only in the United States, is part of a new version of Google Maps for Mobile, software that will work on the growing number of phones that run Google’s Android operating system. Google executives said they eventually hoped to offer the service on Apple’s iPhone and other mobile devices. But they said this would be up to those device makers. Apple and Google have clashed over Apple’s reluctance to approve an application that works with the Google Voice calling service.

As mobile services that involve location have become increasingly important, the underlying mapping data has become a valuable strategic asset. Google recently began creating its own digital maps in the United States, ending a contract with the map data provider TeleAtlas, which is owned by TomTom.

A year earlier, Google had chosen TeleAtlas to replace Navteq, a map data provider that Nokia acquired for $8.1 billion in 2007. Google and Nokia are rivals in mobile phone operating systems.

Source : http://www.crn.com

9:39 AM EDT Wed. Oct. 21, 2009

BlackBerry Bold 9700

Research In Motion (NSDQ:RIMM) introduced its new BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone Wednesday as the successor to its high-end Bold 9000 model.

The 9700 features support for 3G HSDPA networks, a 624MHz processor, 256 MB of Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-FI, and a 3.2-megapixel camera, according to RIM. At least initially, it’s only available on AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

“The BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original BlackBerry Bold with new, state-of-the-art features and a smaller, lighter and highly optimized design that looks, feels and performs great,” said Mike Lazaridis, RIM’s president and co-CEO, in a statement.

The Bold 9700, a high-end model aimed at business users, measures 4.29 x 2.36 x 0.56 inches and weighs 4.3 ounces. By comparison, the Bold 9000 measured 4.48 x 2.6 x 0.59 inches and weighed 4.8 ounces.

The new phone also features a 2.44-inch display and 480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi, according to RIM, which is looking to fend off Apple’s iPhone among business users.

The company did not release pricing on the Bold 9700, but it’s likely to cost more than the Bold 9000, which is selling through AT&T (NYSE:T) for $199 after $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract.

Last week, RIM unveiled a new version of its BlackBerry Storm smartphone, more aimed at the consumer market.

Garmin nuvi 285W/285WT

Do you want the hot Garmin nüvi 285WT, which allows hands-free calling? Or how about the popular Garmin nüvi 260W that already has hundreds of great reviews? Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll get a great deal on the right Garmin nüvi model for you in this sale.

Discount is reflected in current price. Discount applies only to products sold by Amazon.com; does not apply to items sold by other merchants on the Amazon.com website. Offer good through November 22, while supplies last.

Don’t get lost ! Use the right GPS ! Buy now !

Here the new review from Gizmodo

Garmin nuvifone G60

What’s Bad ?

• The resistive touchscreen reminds me of phones circa 2006, bad for everything but big-button tapping.

• There’s no homescreen button, to quickly take you out of a mire of menus.

• It’s crashy—screens froze twice while I was writing this, forcing a full-on hard restart.

• Sometimes the accelerometer just stops working completely.

• The camera is terrible—if the hardware button required for the shutter even works—and there’s no video of any kind.

• The web browser is all but useless, because it relies heavily on zooming in and out, and the touchscreen easily confuses swiping and tapping.

• The interface looks cool at first, but there are strange design choices throughout. Want an example? The QWERTY keyboard only appears in horizontal mode—it’s ABCDE in vertical mode. Also, no “Where To?” button, a la older Nuvi devices.

• You have to pay a $5/month premium charge to check the weather, traffic, local events and other services—all of which can be found on free apps from real smartphone platforms (not just iPhone).

• Even when using email (let alone calendar), there doesn’t seem to be any awareness of the rest of the internet: The email wizard lets you enter any address and password, but it doesn’t say whether it can actually get mail. This tenacious little phone is still trying to log onto my Hotmail account.

• The battery ran down completely during my first day of testing, after a few phone calls and some modest GPS navigation, and the battery indicator drops fast when it’s just on standby. In fairness, you shouldn’t use this phone or any other phone without a car charger, if you intend to use it for GPS navigation.

• There is no car charger. It’s missing the $7 USB-to-cig-lighter adapter. AT&T probably wanted to sell it separately, but when I asked at my local AT&T store, they didn’t even carry it.

• Since it’s an AT&T phone, it has to compete with the iPhone and other handsets that are way better. If the Nuvifone were on Verizon, it would at least have a network advantage in certain markets that it could lord over the iPhone herd. But even Apple haters would have a hard time spending an extra $100 on this—with the exact same phone reception.

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it was introducing the GPS 72H with new, state-of-the-art features including a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, and a fast USB interface – all in an easy-to-use handheld that floats.

“Since 2002, the GPS 72 has been the handheld of choice for the boater that wants a simple, rugged, and reliable navigator,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president for worldwide sales.  “Now, with a high-sensitivity receiver, boaters can acquire a position fix quickly and easily.”

In addition to improved GPS satellite reception, the GPS 72H can quickly transfer waypoints, tracks, and routes via its fast USB interface, as well as the tried-and-true NMEA 0183.  Battery life has also been improved to 18 hours (typical use).  Like the legacy GPS 72, the updated 72H is fully waterproof to IPX-7 standards (submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes).  Best of all, the unit floats, in case of an accidental dunking.

The GPS 72H features built-in celestial data, including tide tables, sunrise/sunset times, and a fishing and hunting almanac.  Like its predecessor, the GPS 72H stores up to 500 waypoints and 50 routes.

The GPS 72H includes a wrist strap, a quick start manual, and digital owner’s manual.  The unit is expected to be available in the October 2009 for a suggested retail price of $149.99.  Visit www.garmin.com for more information.

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Music legend Bob Dylan is “talking to a couple of car companies” about becoming the voice of their GPS system.

The singer-songwriter discussed the possibility on his BBC Radio 6 Music Sunday show which was on the theme of street maps.

Renowned for his raspy, nasally tones, the 68-year-old American gave his listeners a taster of what his directions might sound like.

“Left at the next street. No, right. You know what? Just go straight.”

He continued: “I probably shouldn’t do it because whichever way I go, I always end up at one place – on Lonely Avenue. Luckily I’m not totally alone. Ray Charles beat me there.”

The normally reclusive Dylan, whose hits include Blowin’ in the Wind and Like a Rolling Stone, admitted he does not normally like telling people what he is doing.

His Theme Time Radio Hour is on Mondays at midnight. The singer is currently on hiatus, and this week’s show was a repeat. His comments had not previously been reported.

Comedian John Cleese is one of several celebrities who have already lent their voices to sat-nav devices.

Other sat-nav voices include Susan Skipper, who appeared as Nigel Havers’ posh girlfriend in the 1980s sitcom Don’t Wait Up; and Eve Karpf, who voice-dubbed the famous line: “Monsieur, with these Rocher you are really spoiling us” in a chocolate commercial.

Original Source : BBC News (August 25, 2009)