Garmin to offer navigation software exclusively on ASUS for Android; coming soon to BlackBerry, iOS [Updated]

By on Oct 27, 2010 at 8:06 AM
Software October 27, 2010

Hot on the heels of the public break-up between GPS giant Garmin and handset maker ASUS, the navigation company has announced that it will still work with the Taiwanese handset providing its GPS software and some location-based service applications on select ASUS, Android handsets. The exact verbiage of the statement looks like this:

ASUS will design and manufacture new models of ASUS-branded mobile phones, some of which will include preloaded Garmin navigation and Location Based Service (LBS) applications. Garmin will expand its mobile handset application development and plans to offer navigation and other applications through certain consumer application stores.

DigiTimes is reporting that the deal between Garmin and ASUS is exclusive on the Android platform; DT also notes that Garmin will be offering “software on Apple’s App Store and RIM’s BlackBerry App World for free download.” The blog cites Asustek as the source of its information.

UPDATE: Garmin contacted BGR this morning to let us know about a few inaccuracies in DigiTimes’ report. Here’s Garmin’s statement:

It is possible that we will offer navigation apps on Apple and Blackberry devices, but we haven’t announced when they will be available or how much those apps will cost. They will not be free.

Read [Garmin] Read [Digitimes]

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18 Comments

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  • Ms. Lady

    Can’t knock a free navigation app… Get a garmin

  • Dieter Bohnah

    Nice of you (and typical) to leave out that VOICE navigation is not included in the ‘free’ download. Dig a little deeper, amateur.

    Tired of using otherwise unemployable “writers” on this genius site, GellerBoy? :)

    • cosmin

      ha ha ha… you’re right :) )

  • ChocoQuesadilla

    Good thing they are going with a real & decent OS instead of android.

  • MacMan

    Free ? yeah I’ll take it why not, I have like 16GB’s free on my phone. Can a android user say that ? No

    • Mark Palmos

      erm, and android user can have 100 32gb cards if they want, can an iphone user say that, erm NOT.

      And see how Garmin, Asus, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Motorola etc etc etc are ALL backing the winning horse?

      Can iphone users say that? erm, NOT.

      • MacMan

        32 GB cards don’t even work well with android so you need 16GB. Winning horse ? Haha

    • Mitch

      Idiot.

      See comment by Mark Palmos. Fanboys are so moronic.

  • TiredOfVzNavigator

    I would jump on a Garmin Nav app in a heartbeat! Verizon rips you off for $10 a month for an at best fair to middling product. Come on Garmin!

  • sirpaul

    Wow, free GPS software on iPhone?? Seems unreal. You can barely find a “find your car” app for free these days lol.

    • Terry

      Download mapquest navigator it’s free with voice too.

  • nlinux

    Hey ChocoQuesadilla, you just stupid or can’t read?

    “is exclusive on the Android platform”?

    • ChocoQuesadilla

      Can you read retard?

      • Perspective

        Here’s a perfect example of the value of punctuation. “Can you read retard?” does not have the same meaning as “Can you read, retard?”. The former asks the commenter can “read retard,” while the latter simply asks if the commenter ca “read.”

  • huh

    It means garmin navigation will be uninstallable bloatware on asus phones. I can’t think of anything more pointless considering android comes with superior navigation software baked in.

  • Martin

    Meeeeeeee!

  • Sagar

    Uh, having used Garmin for years now has led to this conclusion – Garmin navi system sucks. And I would never be a customer again.

  • wirecup

    So both companies are going to work together outside of a partnership when they could not work together in a partnership? Sounds like pure public relations damage control. Products probably won’t get any better, their lawyers get fired, and an ad firm looses an account. More importantly, who will be responsible for continued support and warranty work or does everybody loose?

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