Google Maps Navigation takes a mobile turn

Don't try this on game day, but the new Google Maps Navigation application will show you how to take a spin past Boston's Fenway Park.

(Credit: Google)

You can almost hear the portable navigation industry swearing already.

Google is announcing plans Wednesday to release a new Android application called Google Maps Navigation. When combined with a GPS-equipped mobile phone running Android 2.0, it provides turn-by-turn directions powered by Google Maps and a slick user interface that combines features such as voice recognition and Google Street View. Google Maps Navigation, like seemingly everything that emerges from Google, will be free.

"Mobile platforms--Android and others--are so powerful now that you can build client apps that can do magical things connected to the cloud," said Google CEO Eric Schmidt in a briefing for reporters at Google's headquarters on Tuesday.

The standard Google Maps Navigation view.

(Credit: Google)

Companies in the cell phone navigation industry have seen this day coming for quite some time. Right now, the beta application only works on phones that will use the Android 2.0 software, which is scheduled to be available very soon with the expected arrival of Motorola's Droid phone on Verizon's network.

Google's Vic Gundotra appeared to demonstrate the application on the Droid: he wouldn't confirm it, but it was a shiny black Android 2.0 phone running on Verizon's network and bearing Motorola's stamp, so we're probably not going too far out on a limb here. (Update, 7:24 a.m. PDT: Says Google's Wednesday morning press release: "The first phone to have Google Maps Navigation and Android 2.0 is the Droid from Verizon.")

However, Google is working with Apple on bringing it to the iPhone, and it's not ruling out licensing the software to makers of portable navigation devices used in cars throughout the world, said Gundotra, vice president of engineering at Google for mobile and developers. The process involving Apple is slightly different from the usual App Store submission process, because Maps is a built-in iPhone application, he said.

The application works like any navigation system that you may have used, but it combines Google Search and Google Maps functions that are normally only available on the desktop and brings them to the smartphone. Perhaps the most interesting and useful feature comes from Google Street View, allowing Google to provide a Street View image at every turn that the application suggests during your journey.

As with other navigation applications, users can search for gas stations or restaurants along the way, and get real-time traffic information. Google also developed a unique "arms-length" user interface that automatically pops up when the software detects that it has been placed into a dashboard holder, with bigger buttons and links to voice controls front and center.

Obviously, Google is not the first to offer a combination of turn-by-turn maps and Web services. Many different smartphone applications provide this type of navigation service, and companies like Garmin and TomTom are also working to embed Web-delivered data into their on-dash and built-in navigation systems.

But the price for Google Maps Navigation--free--will be tough to beat. Expect to see ads pop up at a later date, although they won't be present at launch.

Google doesn't plan to open-source the application but does plan to make it free on Android 2.0 phones, and implied that the application would be free for other partners as they cut deals to use the application. That could dramatically reduce the cost of developing navigation services, undercutting the established industry with a product that consumers already know very well: there are 50 million active users of Google Mobile Maps, Gundotra said.

Google is not sure whether Google Maps Navigation will work on older Android phones that will get upgraded to Android 2.0. That depends on the carrier and phone maker, Gundotra said.

[musicphreke]

I can haz for iPhone? That's pretty awesome for those Android folks. Free, can't top that at all.

[terminalblue]

no, you cannot. but you can get an android device and ditch your clunky iphone.

[AppleSuxLeo]

That was kinda harsh...but true.

[smrtone4u]

LOL @ terminalblue....clunky iphone? you mean the top rated phone right now on cnet and the one that has more then outsold any google os phone, mind you there are several different google phones now and only one apple os. The iphone smaller then the new droid, and looks a hell of a lot better than any google phone out there, has a better processor then any current google phone, better multimedia capabilities? yes......ditch that clunky iphone for an unproved laggy os. Please read up before making an absolute ignorant statement.<br />k thx bye

[DustoMan]

Blackberry version please?

[ddesy]

I'd definitely like to see this on BlackBerry as well. That wouldn't guarantee I could use it, though, since I can't see Verizon allowing free competition to their own paid offering.

[d_e_fresh]

yes please!

[NJMetsHero]

Verizon new smartphone Droid will have this built in. First phone to have it. So Verizon apparently will allow it.

[Renegade Knight]

@ ddesy <br /> <br />The GPS costs Verizon nothing (since the consumer pays for it) and the maps are the same. Stored on the GPS (or smartphone). The only thing there really is to pay for is updates to the maps. That Verizon even charges a monthy fee above the purchase price was just gravy for them. They can affod to "give away" free GPS since the customer already paid for it. <br /> <br />Unless you are always downloading maps as you go with little local storage there is no reason to have a monthly fee of any kind. If you download as you go...that's what the data plan is for.

[yjhsug]

read

[dsjr2006]

I hope Apple doesn't mess this up. I want this on my iPhone now. I'm already prepared to delete TomTom and Navigon, just tell me when.

[brian.lee]

Off topic but between TomTom and Navigon which is worse?

[randysn]

It is "offered" as a service with your AT&#38;T contract for $9.99 a month...Another reason to ditch AT&#38;T, soon.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Hate to break it to you , but it is Android only...and free for us.<br />RUN ! from ATT/iPhone ; )

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

tom tom is there with an accessory.

[smrtone4u]

Run from iphone, top selling phone in america on a well PROVEN OS... please...you VZW fanboys have got to be kidding! Is this the FIRST phone that verizon is not charging for navigation...oh....yeah..in BETA form? I am pretty sure VZ navigator is about the same price on ANY other verizon phone. RUN FROM THE NICKEL AND DIME VERIZON and their crippled phone selection! Poor verizon customers act like children because apple didnt want verizon to cripple the iphone like they do every other phone in their lineup.<br />k thx bye

[mordyk]

The problem with all of these cloud based applications are that they are inaccessible when out of coverage or expensive to use when roaming. This does not apply to most application, but if you are relying on a GPS service and out of network range you are essentially lost and stranded.

[ikramerica--2008]

good point. when the world ends, us smart phone people won't even know how to tie our shoes because we won't have access to wapedia to explain it to us...

[NJMetsHero]

The phones have built in GPS's so they would still work. In the press release for the Droid it said it would cache the images so if data is spotty it would still work.

[rwn1026a]

yeah, this is a huge problem if you're with AT&#38;T... Time to switch to a better network. "There's a map for that".

[salazar210]

Totally agree with this point. and to NJmetsHero, I thing the phone will probably be caching the place you would be navigating to; and that really doesn't help if your in the middle of nowhere with no signal. Still want this on my phone though.

[chrisx1]

Just get a cheap $89 PND to use for when you are in dead zones, roaming areas etc. and use the Google service when the "free" data connection is available. <br />Still cheaper than paying for the carrier's streaming GPS service.

[Renegade Knight]

That's why I'd rather have the maps on the phone. I don't want "cloud" maps.

[deric_raymond]

That's legit as hell.

[scottyrob]

Too legit to quit maybe?

[AppleSuxLeo]

MC Hammer would approve.

[fuzbears]

The real question for competition is how well it works when you lose cell coverage, or are in spotty areas.. Granted with Verizon you usually get "some" coverage at least, but does it stop working mid route if you lose coverage.. Can it reroute if the bridge is out in the middle of nowhere? <br />The other GPS makers don't leave you high an dry in those cases, and that alone can make their software worth the money..

[Tom Krazit]

I could have included that, sorry. They cache the route selection after you input a destination, so it's stored locally and you won't lose the directions if you lose the connection. If you want to deviate from the route without a connection, you're sort of screwed, but that's not any different from other cell phone navigation apps, as opposed to portable GPS devices with more storage.

[abcd9009]

Since Google maps is available worldwide (most if not all countries), will the navigation also work outside US... like in UK or France? Or is it limited to US only?

[Renegade Knight]

@Tom Krazit <br /> <br />Thanks for the clarifiation that what Verizon/Google etc. offer is "cloud" maps.

[mvdyk03]

@Tom Krazit: Not entirely true. The iPhone navi apps (TomTom and Navigon, anyway) are local so deviation from routes when there's no signal is a non-issue.

[Sgr76]

Thats some cool stuff. Now if you could only get one of those android phones with a plan that doesn't break the bank....That will be a game changer. Even T-Mobile is gouging these days.

[rwn1026a]

Verizon charges the same at AT&#38;T... Only they offer a much better network. And the Android OS will have lots of free stuff that AT&#38;T charges for.

[b08bydigital]

Its nice, but I wont give up my Garmin Nüvi for it.<br />I have a handlebar holder for my G1 on my bike, so I think this will be good for biking, but, it wont be my primary means of navigation in the car...For the following reasons:<br />1)what if I dont have a cell signal?<br />2)I live in Germany, does it work in Germany?<br />3) what if a call comes in? Then I have the choice of seeing where to go, or talk on the phone?<br />4)Google is SERIOUSLY watching everything thing that we do...from browsing (Chrome), to emailing (Gmail), and now they will see everywhere we go??? Its good if I get kidnapped, but I dont usually like having someone watch over me.

[doubtthat]

Unless you were kidnapped by Google. :)

[alskiontheweb]

How well does it work when your cell provider drops? How well does it work when your data plan is slow? This sounds like it, like most of the mobile cell based services, will be yet another thing you can only rely on lightly. I have the iphone maps app and it is useless for the most part when it drops to Edge which it does frequently.

[rwn1026a]

Wow, I never realized AT&#38;T's network was so bad.... I have Verizon, and I can honestly say that in the past year I have NEVER had a dropped call or had no signal. If all you iPhone users are really so concerned about what happens when you lose your signal, you REALLY need to switch networks.

[doubtthat]

This is the peak of coolness. It may not replace my Garmin yet, but having another option would be great. Especially for walking tours of cities and towns where you don't want to carry a second device and you have good connectivity.

[brian.lee]

I'm quite happy with the current Google Maps app on the iPhone and I'd even consider paying a fee or yearly fee for having the local geographical data cached on my iPhone. AT&#38;T's network is so unreliable and being able to look stuff up on the subway is handy.

[Paodi]

"But the price for Google Maps Navigation--free--will be tough to beat. Expect to see ads pop up at a later date, although they won't be present at launch." <br /><br />If Google can feed ads for businesses along the route, it may just be the first pop up ads that I welcome seeing.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Very true.

[dennisheadley]

I have a traditional navigation unit and the Verizon navigator program on my Omnia but there is no way that the phone will ever take the place of traditional units for the majority of people. I only use the phone application when i fly somewhere and have a rental car or I hop into another persons car who doesn't have a navigation unit. <br /><br />A phone app is great for rare occasions but for day to day use it is not anywhere near as practical as a dedicated unit. Can you swap it from car to car so your spouse or kids can use it? Can you lend it to that neighbor that always borrows all your stuff we he goes camping with your tent and cook stove? It is not a practical thing in many situations. And nobody with any sense would go out and purchase new hones for everyone in the house that might use this, with their contracts and all, just for this feature. <br /><br />Also, despite everyone gushing over Google! bringing this to the market, I purchased my unit and the phone app because i travel most of the time during the week and I used to just use Maps to get directions for the next day at whatever hotel i was staying at. Maps has to be one of the worst at giving good directions. I can't count the number of times it has sent me to the wrong location. I've had it send me to the wrong city in a state despite typing in the whole address, zip code included. If you travel around allot through a five state area like I do Maps is almost useless. It has given me so many bogus directions that I can no longer trust it for business purposes.

[mnemonija]

Git yer wife a phone, man. :) If your kids have drivers licenses, git them all on one of them family plans.<br />As far as the neighbor goes, tell 'im he can have yer wife, and she has the phone.

[dennisheadley]

Useless comment. Any dedicated unit you buy for the $199 price of this Droid phone on contract is going to be a far superior unit in both function and practicality. <br /><br />BTW they all have phones already and neither of them want anything to do with this phone as it is a large brick. They both think my Omnia is too big as it is and this Droid is even bigger.

[loose_screw]

On the plus side, a cloud based maps app will be more up to date than a standalone navigation unit that you buy, since you have to pay for updated maps.

[cary1]

I want it on iPhone! Still have 18 months contract left before I switch to Android or Windows Mobile

[abcd9009]

@cary1 <br /><br />Switch to Android maybe... but switching to WinMo after using the iPhone ... seriously???

[frankwick]

i must admit I almost gave up on WinMo but the new 6.5 interface is seriously cool. I have a tilt 2 and this device is fun, sleek, fast, stable. I hated it at first because of the HTC software called TouchFlo 3d. Once I got rid of this crap I was blown away. Blown away! I realize this is not the final product from Microsoft here as I've seen demos of Windows Mobile 7. Windows Phone 6.5 is a stop gap but a huge leap from 6.1. <br /> <br />I don't have stats but there are probably as many apps for WinMo as there are for iphone. Think about it. people have been developing Winmo apps since 2002. The problem is they are hard to find. Every developer keeps his own site. it's like a big scavenger hunt.

[ftarnogol]

"Google is not sure whether Google Maps Navigation will work on older Android phones that will get upgraded to Android 2.0. That depends on the carrier and phone maker, Gundotra said."<br /><br />Namely, the G1

[chrisfrary]

as soon as the droid comes out looks like mommy and daddy are getting a semi-new tomtom

[MyRightEye]

This will be a game-changer in countries like New Zealand where GPS units are CRAZY expensive and the price for local map updates is INSANE.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Why is it so expensive there ?

[chrisx1]

Unless you can pre-download and save the maps on the device, it will not be of any use outside of your data coverage area or even within your coverage area in dead zones. <br />If it can work with no data coverage, they would have SPECIFICALLY SAID SO! <br />I would still get it anyway since it's free and the online searching would be useful whenever a good data service signal is available. However, I would need to keep a real PND in the glove box for emergency use when the data coverage is not available or when there there is a Google outage.

[rwn1026a]

You NEED a PND for "emergency use"???? Are you an ambulance driver??? Honestly, people these days have become so lazy and brain-dead... I don't have a GPS, either in my car, or in my phone.. And in the last year I have been lost ZERO times.... In a real emergency, you can always stop at a gas station and ask directions.

[ArtInvent]

Frankly, this just murders any other nav service I've ever seen, because it will undoubtedly integrate with all your Google accounts, contacts, custom maps, etc. I use Gmail on my computer, and when someone sends me an address in an email, I see a little window offering to map that in Google Maps. To just effortlessly link that to the Nav function, overlay Street View, Satellite view - voice search! - I mean, wow. That is convergence. It would be worth paying a lot more for that than for a Garmin or TomTom standalone system - and it's free? Dang. DAAAAAANG.<br /><br />I'm very worried: Google is absolutely going to take over.

[Renegade Knight]

Meh, I don't use google anything except search. If I get this phone I'd have a bunch of google apps. If the have an open app store I can replace those anyway.

[chrisx1]

Calm down. It is just a data dependent streaming service, plus you have all the limitations of trying to multitask phone calls and navigation on a cell phone. Limitations of the hardware, phone OS and carrier network limitations. It may have bugs and growing pains on release. <br />Rein in your expectations and hyperbole. <br />It's great that's it's free for now.