NAVIGON launches MobileNavigator for Android and Windows phones

By on Jan 7, 2010 at 12:31 PM
CES January 7, 2010

Navigon-windows-android

NAVIGON is bringing MobileNavigator, its popular turn-by-turn navigation solution to Windows Mobile and Android users in North America. Originally launched on the iPhone, MobileNavigator for Android and Windows Mobile utilizes your mobile phone’s on-board GPS receiver and pre-loaded maps to provide navigation when there is no cellular coverage. It’s a pretty feature rich app and it includes:

  • Reality View Pro which displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit drivers will encounter
  • Lane Assistant Pro which helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.
  • Text-to-speech functionality which announces street names in addition to turn-by-turn directions
  • Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warnings
  • Day & Night Mode for map display, 2D and 3D map view, Automatic switching between portrait and landscape format
  • Direct Access allows navigation to contacts saved in the phone’s address book, Intelligent address entry
  • Route Planning, Branded POIs and POIs along the route

The Windows Mobile version of MobileNavigator will ship with maps of North America (US, Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) from NAVTEQ and will debut next week at Pocketgear and Smartphone.net. MobileNavigator for Windows Mobile will run $69.00 until February 14, 2010, at which point the application will jump to its full retail price of $89.00. The Android version will launch in Spring 2010 at a yet-to-be-determined price.

Read [Windows Mobile] Read [Android]

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40 Comments

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  • StevenGlansburg

    How can they even make money on this after Google Navigation was released for Android? It’s even sweet on a mytouch, so why would you pay for another app that does the same thing?

    • MikeD

      So people on Android don’t like choice?

      And everything should be free? They why be a programmer?

      Look once you are on the Android platform, you have the worlds largest AD company seeing all your email, knowing most if not all purchases and everywhere you go. they know who you call and when.

      Yeah its free, but what you are paying for it another way.

      Bottomline, Not everybody drinks Apples or Googles cool aid.

    • Tyler M

      I for one rely on GPS for my traveling. There is a *BIG* disadvantage to Google Navigation: Internet is required during navigation.

      Navigon stores LOCAL maps on the SD card.

      I don’t want to be lost somewhere, especially in a rural mountain road and not get signal and be S.O.L.

      Navigon is my favorite GPS program for smartphones (I’ve demoed TomTom, iGo, CoPilot, NDrive, Garmin and Destinator) so naturally I’m happy to see they are expanding mobile OS platforms.

    • Sohail

      Its because Google is real time … no network no GPS maps.. with Navigon or other offline GPS solution its possible to use without active network connection.

  • Laz

    It’s for the converted iPhone users who jump on the android band wagon. Like StevenGlansburg can’t see why would pay for this service…

    • http://www.applebythehour.com jarrett

      Sure, they paid big money for the Appl on iPhone, then ditched the platform just to pay for it again on Android. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

    • webby

      Apple fanbois live in their parents’ basements — they have Mom’s money to burn.

      • ironosity

        Retarded comment…I’m a software engineer surrounded by other software engineers who happen to be apple fanbois. so quite stereotyping webby, you google fanboi you.

      • Mark S

        I don’t think saying you are a software engineer helped your argument. I have known too many.

      • Molly

        Software Engineer? That’s like a garbage man saying they are a Sanitation Engineer? You are a code monkey and your type is a dime a dozen in India, that is why you are unemployed. Now go back to stroking your inferior iPhone.

    • MikeD

      Wrong. Its smart business sense to expand the user base by adding support for another just as viable platform Android.

      Whats wrong with that? And heck even if a person went from iPhone to Android. If they liked Navagon, then they can get what they want.

  • Anonymous

    The benefit I see would be it working where there is no data signal.

  • doublejizzle

    I agree. I just don’t see much market for this. Google turn by turn on the Droid is great and free. I love how you can Google a place and then click the get directions right from the search links and launch Google maps.

  • tallperson117

    For once I actually agree with Glansburg, the google maps navigation may be buggy, but its still in beta form, and there’s no reason id switch to this for $69.99, they’re not gonna make any money on Android for this, and on the iPhone couldn’t people just use installous? That’s what I always used on my iTouch before my Droid made it obsolete

  • Dara

    Google Maps is unreliable.

    It has failed me multiple times by returning results with the correct info but having the location wrong on the map.

    I had a heartstopping moment last year in Paris when I was trying to get to my pre-booked airport hotel. Google was telling me that it was in the middle of the city and hence I was screwed for my early flight the next morning. Thankfully Google just sucked. (As a sidenote, Garmin dropped the ball on this too, but at least had the courtesy to not give me the wrong answer.)

    Just this Monday I had an important appointment at 8000 Random Road. I checked google on my computer to get the major intersection and headed out. It was wrong so I tried to sort it out on my phone. Whether I searched the business name or the address it gave me the same wrong point on the map. Funny thing was that when I used streetview for that point, it said 10500 Random Road in the corner.

    The reason this costs money is that Navteq is in the business of making accurate maps and they would be out of business if their maps sucked. Google gets its money elsewhere and hence its maps suck.

    • Dara

      I should also mention that Nokia’s Ovi Maps comes with on-device Navteq maps included.

    • Meko

      Dara, you’ve had some tough luck. I live in Boston, MA where bridges get moved in the middle of the night and they build new streets on a daily basis. Okay, sure that’s a little bit exaggerating but during the Big Dig this was common.

      Now, anyone who knows Boston, know it’s crazy to drive around here with all the one way’s, ultra triangular blocks etc…and google has yet to fail me.

      Just my experience. I’m sure you’ll find more people are happy with it than not.

  • Jarred

    I worked for Best Buy for a long time, and Navigon was one of the worst stand alone GPS units out. Maybe things have changed, but I doubt it…..

    • Grandma Jones

      Well if you worked for Best Buy for a long time then you most definitely know what you are talking about.

  • schnikeys

    @Meko, yeah Boston used to be awful to navigate. But I’ve actually had more issues in Providence lately(the whole 195 thing) than in Boston with Google. I have no complaints especially since its FREE.

    • Meko

      That’s interesting. The whole 95 thing is confusing though even just trying to follow the signs :) What we need more than GPS improvement here is road design improvement. The exits to Logan Airport being on both sides of the highway northbound into the city is confusing enough. :)

  • Radishq

    If only their fucking site has links to anything other than their iPhone edition…

  • raulr

    So where are they storing the 1GB+ of maps? Can they store to the microSD card without rooting?

    • Tyler M

      Contrary to what Android haters hype, all Android apps can save data to the SD card (except program files and libraries)

      This includes images, maps, sounds, skins, support files, etc

      • raulr

        Good to know. Thanks!

  • fish

    I’ll buy it the day it’s released on Android. Google Navigation requires inet access, that sucks.

  • haptic

    Lol this could be really handy, i hate driving through towns and seeing a white page with a moving dot on it

  • Mark S

    Full blown GPS’s also can give wrong data. I have been sent the wrong way several times with a standalone GPS. Besides, didn’t anyone watch the office when he drove into a lake because he followed the GPS blindly?

    • Joe Rockhead

      The Office is real life. Cool. Are you and your friend, Barney Rubble, going to hit up the Water Buffalo lodge this weekend?

      P.S. Your buddy ol pal is banging Wilma in the back door.

  • JakeyBoy

    i’ll agree…why would you pay $$$ when google gives a similar program for free with the android phones….

    • John

      You pay for what you get. Google might be free but expect to times where you have no data connection and have no idea what to do or where to go next…. clearly there is an advantage for both. I doubt Navigon would enter the Android market if they knew no one would buy them. Now the real question is: how much are they going to price their app? Less than 20 bucks, i would buy.

  • bo from next doo

    navigon gave me the wrong directions

  • Beau

    Google sucks it doesn’t tell you where and what street to turn on. I don’t have time to fumble with my phone while driving I need clear directions with 3d nave and street and lane information that’s why I spent $100 on navigon the best map app for iPhone. I agree it shouldn’t cost no more than $30.00 but if your camplaining about the price you should stick to google and after you’ve had a wreck while fucking with google you’ll wish you’d spent the extra money for quaility!9

  • DK

    Yes, this type of phone is going to common now.
    Dual System: Windows and Google Android. I see a cell phone on CNDIGIT’s website, they provides the model call Diamond T5353. Which has Dual System (windows and google android), GPS and WIFI etc..

  • lololol

    looool just download from piratebay and its freeeeee!!!!

  • DrDroid

    Be serious. Google clearly states the product is in the beta stage and may have bugs. You are to use it at your risk knowing the limitations of the beta. No one is forcing you to use it. AND, if you cause an accident while using the application, you are clearly not paying attention to the road signs, traffic conditions, or whatever may be going on around you. If you are not the cause of the accident, GMaps had nothing to do with it.

  • StevenGlansburg

    If you are going to keep going in circles or down one way streets just because your GPS says so then yes, maybe you should pay more because you would be an idiot. However, if you watch the road and notice street signs that say things like ONE WAY or WRONG WAY, then you should be okay…

  • StevenGlansburg

    I really couldn’t agree more. People forget you still have to watch the road in front of you as well as pay attention to reality. I’ve had a Garmin nuvi 660 since the summer of 2008 it has messed up some routes especially in Chicago. And wanna know how I found my way when my GPS screwed up? Google maps on my iphone… granted it wasn’t telling me where to turn, I still was able to use my head and figure it out on my own.

    I understand some people, maybe Mr. Alvarez, don’t know how to use a regular map, but if you rely completely on an electronic device to guide you everywhere you are in big trouble on the road and in life

  • hm

    my friend had Navigon on the iphone and it directed us to go off a cliff at the end of a “not a through street”….
    I’ll take google over that….
    besides, by now people should know better than to completely rely on navigation systems (how many people have died or gotten trapped because their navigation has directed them into a closed or dangerous road?)

  • Harold

    We implore you, next time, do what Navigon tells you and your “friend”.

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