TeleNav launches standalone GPS device, shoots you with a Shotgun

General

Thanks to the eagerness of TeleNav’s web designers, they’ve let slip one of their most-closely guarded secrets — a stand-alone internet connected GPS device. We’ve got a TeleNav Shotgun in hand, but we weren’t prepared to fire that bad boy off until Monday. Since there’s this little slip-up though, we’ll give you some first impressions.

Marketing and timing aspects aside, the TeleNav Shotgun is actually a pretty sexy unit in terms of appearance. The UI is pretty clean and you could sort of think of it as a big brother to the TeleNav Navigator GPS software you have on your cell phone. The Shotgun uses a built-in SIM card (they won’t let us say which carrier, but it is GSM, obviously) to let you get real-time traffic, locations, restaurant ratings, look-ups, and whatever else your heart desires. The unit does work as advertised and we didn’t have any real hiccups. All in all it’s not bad, it’s just not great and we really don’t see a place in the market for this thing. We’ll let you ponder if you think you’re going to get one or not while we put the finishing touches on our review. We’re riding Shotgun, bitchez.

12 Comments
  • Robbie

    I’m with you BG. No room for this device at all right now. Everyone has it on their phones that want it. You didn’t mention pricing. Unless this is $199 or less it’s not happened. This is just dumb

  • Roger A

    Wont let you say!?!?!? DAMN IT!!!

    Okay, its alright, Im calm now… If its GSM, and its Telenav, its not T-Mobile I can tell you that. AT&T…Your Telenav, Delivered!

  • Brandon

    GPS device only $299, includes 3 months FREE TeleNav Connected Service™

    Price of Service Plans TeleNav Connected Service Plan Price Price
    Month to Month Subscription $11.99
    1 Year Plan $129
    Save $14.88*
    2 Year Plan $239
    Save $48.76*

    With the economy where it is these days, companies need to either give devices away or build the service into the original price of the device. People are looking to cut monthly expenses, not add to them, but I think that either method may work. This product seems doomed to fail.

  • Chris

    With ATTWS and SPCS doing their own navigation software and leaving Telenav in the lurch, I can see why Telenav put one of these devices out.

    I’m considering a new GPS to replace my TomTom – it and the new ATT/SPSC navigator SW use Teleatlas maps, which blows chunks for US maps. My TT’s directed me into 6 dead ends to to about 10 roads that don’t exist in Portland and Seattle in the past year, and it just sits on the charger now.

    With Dash going the way of the dodo now, tho’, this new unit has better use Inrix traffic data, Navteq maps, and include map updates for the prices their asking…

  • blah
  • Who?

    The product doesn’t make any sense. You can get a 4 year prepaid subscription to Telenav on your phone for the same price as this unit, and it includes updates, traffic, etc. for the entire period.

    If you’re actually interested in this just buy Telenav for your smartphone and get a car mount.

  • Who?

    Actually the 4 year prepaid Telenav for your phone is $50 less than the unit–$249.99.

  • btdown

    Sorry..Dont know how many times we have to repeat to all these companies that we’re not paying a monthly fee for a gps navigation device.

  • CDMAUser

    The AT&T Navigator and Sprint Navigation software is Telenav rebranded with a few visual changes at least on Windows Mobile and Blackberry. My Sprint Navigation comes with my Blackberry plan for $30/mo. Includes unlimited data, unlimited GPS, SMS, PictureMail (if they ever release the app instead of replacing their crap Tomcat webserver with a real MMS server), and restricted Sprint TV/Radio.

  • Roger A

    Im with Sprint, and use the “Telenav” which is branded as Sprint Navigation…. So I know Telenav is great, and Sprint’s version of Telenav has more features and works better then say, oh Garmin…

    As for TomTom – Im not so sure. Anything that connects to the internet, or a mobile network has WAY BETTER capability I think, so Telenav should do well.

  • b00st3d

    wow, telenav so this is why telenav hasnt released anything yet for the iphone? they have been working on this pos?!

  • Crunch

    TeleNav is in the process of releasing its GPS software for the iPhone 3G.

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