Unlike most other smartphone platforms, Windows Mobile doesn’t come with a mapping application pre-installed by default. While this may very well change with the soon-to-be-announced Windows Mobile 7, it has thus far been up to the handset manufacturer to throw in a map app if they so choose.
Later this week, messaging/location technology providers TCS will announce that Sony Ericsson has chosen their turn-by-turn application, Gokivo, to be pre-loaded onto future Sony Ericsson-made Windows Mobile devices.
The first Sony Ericsson handset to come with Gokivo out of the box will be the Aspen, which was just announced last week.
This is pretty big news for TCS; they just acquired the company behind Gokivo, Networks In Motion, back in December, and this is the first time any manufacturer has chosen to pre-install the app at the factory.
The flagship features, according to TCS:
- Local Search
- Traffic and Weather
- Location Sharing
While it’s great news for TCS, I have to wonder: with Nokia and Google’s recent moves toward making turn-by-turn navigation a standard feature on S60 and Android, how much longer will smartphone consumers be willing to cough up a subscription fee?
This will make windows mobile more popular amongst user with a unique feature being added into it. And maybe a plus point for sony ericsson.
Though i agree with the authors view regarding the subscription fee.
Let’s just see how this one can stack up with the one offering by OVI maps which is btw, free as well. Details: http://bit.ly/ovi-maps-amazing-details
My car GPS isn’t so hot. It’s a Magellen. So some times I use my Android GPS with driving directions to get to places.
Although it’s superior to any car GPS out there, and let’s my Google friends and Buzz friend know where I am at all times while I am using it,
It KILLS the phone battery. A one way trip is sufficient to wipe out the battery complete with the screen dimmed as far as it will go and all other power settings on low.
So what about this?
Why don’t you just buy a car charger off e-bay for like $2? I have one, and I never have to worry about running low on battery.
Most stand along GPS systems have a battery life of like 30 minutes so I’m not sure why it’s so surprising to you that the battery on an Android runs out so quickly with GPS on.
There are other reasons to pwn a retail GPS unit with Android for the Google Maps application.
All the Android phones have screens that are too small and unsuitable for car GPS’s
No company that I know of makes a mounting bracket for any Android phone so it could be positioned correctly in your car.
I jam my G1 between the shifter and the drink holder, then I have to look down at it while it’s navigating my trip. A complete pain.
I own both the G1 and the Nexus One.
Neither is suitable for car use as is. Not even with a cigarette lighter adapter. I should get one however.
Most of the car GPS devices from Garmin and Tomtom are completely wasted pieces of plastic and silicon with the software and maps that power them. There is no GOOD intelligence in them such as Google Maps on Android has with Latitude.
I’m just saying the guys here or at QuickPWN should start creating an Android branch for car GPS devices that can support Android. As far as 3G, they could sell an adapter or something.
Ideally a manufacturer such as HTC should start manufacturing real car GPS units with Android and 3G chipsets.
The Android phones could then use Bluetooth applications to beam location data to the car GPS powered by Android. It only makes sense.
To re-invent the wheel such as Garmin and Tomtom do and spend all that money on development unnecessarily is stupid. Managers and executives are usually not the brightest light bulbs.
Of course T-Mobile would have to give you an extra SIM for the car GPS. But if Google buys T-Mob, then that won’t really be an issue.
And maybe I’m just paranoid, but I have the feeling Steve Jobs reads techcrunch, and that he’s feeling tempted to take this idea and create the iGPS.
-in case SJ is reading-
Steve, I want you to know I read iCon, and I think you suck, and that you’re a leech. Woz is tr00 and br00tal. You should have learned to program and make an honest living.
I don’t know what could be more worse than not to add a GPS capability like the ones from garmin on this model, I mean its 2010 already, right? GPS should be a part of our normal lives. GPS details: http://bit.ly/diy-gps-guide
Some of the newer GPS models have ARM MPUs.
Can Mobile Crunch do a story on how to flash the EPROM of a Tomtom, Garmin, or other car GPS device to put Android on there???
That’s what I REALLY want. I think that’s what a LOT of people really want. We don’t want Garmin, and Tomtom’s inferior software.
We want the Garmin or Tomtom devices with Android and Google Maps on there and the Google friends integretation and real time traffic and other Google goodies.
Why does Garmin, Tomtom and others pour money into buying maps and paying developers when they can just load Android on their devices?
At any rate, can you please get a ARM powered retail GPS and do a little tutorial on how to flash it with Android and get the right drivers on there. Perhaps Mobile Crunch could cobble together it’s own Android branch with all the right drivers for one single commercial device???
Nice models, but Apple & Nokia are King
Great. now i’ll know where im going.
Sony Ericsson really should give up on the antiquated Windows Mobile.
It keeps releasing boring phones based on the now-obsolete Windows Mobile 6.5 (obsolete now because of the WM7 debut).
Rather than using old Microsoft OSes, Sony-Ericsson would sell more phones if it switched to Google’s Android OS.