Google Maps Navigation: The First Killer App for Android 2.0

Written by Frederic Lardinois / October 28, 2009 8:33 AM / 7 Comments

Android 2.0 just got its first killer app: Google Maps Navigation. Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 will be available for free and will be part of the default Google Maps app on Android 2.0 phones. The service offers all the features that users expect from a modern GPS app, including traffic data, 3D view and turn-by-turn voice guidance. Because it's connected to the Google cloud, the app can also display street view images, satellite imagery and real-time traffic data. Google also implemented a voice recognition feature.

Disrupting the Mapping Industry One App at a Time

Top Features According to Google:

The most recent map and business data
Search in plain English
Search by voice
Traffic view
Search along route
Satellite view
Street View

Two weeks ago, Google severed some of its ties with Tele Atlas in the US and started to display its own mapping data instead. Today's launch of the Maps Navigation app explains why Google decided to do this. Google can now display these maps without having to pay royalties to a third party and without having to negotiate a new contract with Tele Atlas.

By making this a free product, Google is disrupting the mapping and GPS navigation market. Mapping companies like Tele Atlas or NAVTEQ make their money by licensing their data to GPS developers like TomTom or Navigon. Google, on the other hand, can give this product away for free.

For now, the app will only be available on the Droid, but in a press conference earlier this morning, Google also said that these navigation capabilities would eventually come to other phones, including the iPhone.

Comments

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This will be pretty useless if one can't download the maps for offline use, at least in the smaller countries. Once I cross the border - easy to do in The Netherlands - I'm paying data roaming costs, which makes Google Maps Navigation very, very expensive. There is still a place for TomTom and Ovi Maps in the market.

Posted by: Peter | October 28, 2009 9:20 AM

I'm sold. I am convinced that Android is the way to go. I wont use navigation that often, but this is just one of many cool features of the Android operating system.

I'm not too concerned with roaming charges in the USA.

Posted by: Chris R | October 28, 2009 10:57 AM

I would love if they even introduced public ally today on the Android 2.0 voice mail services to all users

http://thetechnologycafe.com/android-2-0-now-with-google-map-video/

Posted by: Samir | October 28, 2009 11:35 AM

This is a great feature, I'll be able to use the Maps a lot.

I am definitely looking to get an Android phone when its time for me to upgrade.

Posted by: Andy | October 29, 2009 8:28 AM

I'm not impressed... Seems more like a duplication of something that already exists in other forms. Will someone please tell me who the heck decided to start calling the internet/a .com the "CLOUD"?!?!?!

Posted by: Me | November 4, 2009 9:15 AM

It was apparently something that evolved from so many people using the cloud shaped box in powerpoint to surround servers and networks to cut down on detail!

Posted by: Kristin | November 4, 2009 10:10 AM

A nice feature would be an option to download satalite, map and poi data for your trip in the event your traveling in a communication deprived area.

Posted by: John | November 4, 2009 6:35 PM