Cellphone with GPS v GPS devices with cellphone

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 05 February 2008 04:13

Opinion and Analysis

Increasing cellphones are being offered with inbuilt GPS capability, but GPS device makers are fighting back: adding voice and data communications capabilities to their products. Last year when Nokia Australia introduced the  Nokia Navigator 6110 with inbuilt GPS and turn by turn navigation, Nokia executives argued that just as cellphones had marginalised the markets for basic digital phones and basic MP3 players, they would do the same for basic GPS-based navigation devices.

However GPS is a little more challenging: mobile GPS devices are designed to provide important information in real-time to the driver of  vehicle: they must be highly user friendly to be safe and acceptable for use. The display must be large an bright enough to read in bright sunlight.

Meeting these criteria will always be a challenge to designers of devices that are primarily designed to be mobile phones: just compare using most camera phones or MP3 player phones with the experience of using dedicated equivalents.

However approaching the problem from the other side: digital cameras or MP3 players with basic cellphone capability does not seem to have caught on. GPS devices with inbuilt cellphones just might, for a number of very good reasons. At least that is what leading cellphone chipmaker Qualcomm seems to be banking on by tying up with GPS navigation device maker Mio Technology of Taiwan. The two have announced a collaboration to develop connected personal navigation devices (PNDs) with cellular connectivity for real-time traffic updates, voice call capabilities and more.

Mio says that it will offer consumers a next-generation GPS device that goes beyond traditional point-to-point navigation. "With real-time content, search capabilities and more, Mio's connected PNDs will provide a uniquely dynamic navigation experience that can be customised for any lifestyle. Whether for leisure travel, business travel or the daily commute, Mio's cutting-edge connected PNDs will enable people to explore their environment."