Gadgetell How To: GPS directions on Smartphone
GPS is a hot industry today. There are new stand alone devices announced almost everyday with added functionality like photos, music and in Asia, TV. But do you need another device to lug around? I believe the answer is in your phone.
Set Up
Can the phone be an easy-to-use GPS device? To find out, I contacted Telenav (listed on AT&Ts site) about doing so. My phone, a Samsung Blackjack, requires an external GPS receiver that connects via Bluetooth, their application and an account with Telenav.
I chose to install the software OTA (over the air) instead of the optional sync process). The file loaded easily with no issues. Upon running the software it found the GPS receiver, which brilliantly turns off after 10 minutes of non use, without me even turning on the phones Bluetooth. It did it all automatically. Within minutes my location was fixed.
Initial Impression
The software takes a few seconds to load. The user interface is pretty good, simply logical. When you think about it, GPS is just a receiver and software and this software worked excellently. Inputing where I want to go was easy to do and directions were located and validated by Telenav, a nice feature. Directions flowed almost instantaneously. Wrong turns are quickly re-routed.
Costs
Be prepared to shell about a little less than $100 for a GPS receiver if your phone doesn’t have internal GPS. After that the monthly service charge from Telenav is $9.99. Be advised that using the system will use some voice minutes and some data minutes.
Summary
So far, I am very pleased with Telenav. It’s directions have been spot on (even better than other GPS devices). I’ll be doing a head to head test in the coming weeks, pitting Telenav against the popular Tom Tom One. Stay tuned for that head to head plus a full report on the Telenav system.
Product Page [Telenav]
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Comparing telenav to Tomm Tom ? If you do not have cell service in remote areas or are roaming..Telenav will not work ! I was in Rocky Mountain national Park in a large area with no cell service and got lost because Telenav requires cell service along with GPS visual.. Not good if you travel into areas with zero service. Not to mention Customer support with Telenav is terrible.. Updates to newer software takes forever and no one ever has an answer other than “ I don’t know, They don’t tell us” or contact Navteq… Out sourcing Telenav support would be better than what they use today ! Tom, Tom WINS !!!
on August 8, 2007 at 11:23 AM - LINKI got a treo 750.
on August 11, 2007 at 02:34 AM - LINKdo I need an external receiver?
I concurred Kevin Co’s comments. Only real user’s feedback counts.
I used in my Treo phone for a month.
Problems are:
1. GPS receiver ($100) is required.
2. No Carrier data plan ($$) and service coverage, no GPS connection from Telenav.
3. Battery hogger, Need to recharge it all the times.
4. Frequently encountered Cannot connect to server. Need to reboot.
No GPS while you are talking.
Imagine you were in the middle of LA downtown.
5. If you are near high rise buildings, like any downtown, GPS accuracy is doubtful.
Gave it up after 1 month subscription and bought a real GPS.
on August 17, 2007 at 10:06 PM - LINKI have been using an IPAQ HX4700 with Tom Tom Navigator 5 software including US and Western Europe maps: driving 40k miles/yr in many countries.
Two weeks ago I bought an AT & T 8525 candy bar size phone which runs Win Mobile 5.0. It has replaced my IPAQ for ALL the IPAQ MS Office features.
The 8525 is different and outstanding because I can use Telenav while talking on the phone and using any of my MS Office programs. Battery life is great!!
Telenav also works with my TomTom GPS receiver. By the way the early GPS receivers I owned ten years ago didn’t work in “Urban Canyons” nor in tunnels, but the new SIRFIII ones do work flawlessly.
My next step is, with TomTom’s permission, install Navigator 5 on my 8525 phone which should work: giving me TomTome mapping capability in Europe and in US dead AT & T spots.
The other BIG advantage of TeleNav is in the hellish LA traffic I can get real time traffic updates/routing for the same low $10/mo. I can, with a minimum of diverting my attention from driving, also while GPS navigating, touch screen call TeleNav on the toll free number, give them a destination and they will download it to Telenav for my rerouting.
I agree - my experience with tech support was hours on hold and still no human voice at TeleNav.
In summation, for $50/month for TeleNav and the Unlimited Data plan it’s a smokin’ deal for a business traveler like me. I can lug around only a candy bar sized phone on my hip, the tiny GPS in my pocket and find my location while walking around most any city in the US, too.
Buy a SenaCase flip case for your 8525 and you will love your 8525 even more.
Cool, huh.
on August 31, 2007 at 02:51 AM - LINKAny comments about Telenav & BlackBerry 8703e?
on September 1, 2007 at 06:49 PM - LINK