Garmin, ASUS form partnership for phones, nuvifone G60 first model
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Feb 4th 2009 1:54AM
posted Feb 4th 2009 1:54AM
Update: Engadget Chinese just returned from the press conference in Taiwan with several updates. First, the OS on these phones has not been finalized. According to ASUS' chairman, "We have expertise in WinMo, Linux and Android, but we believe the software is more important then the OS." The partnership, which puts Garmin in charge of the "Navigation centric" UI also brings an end to ASUS-only branded cellphones.
Hooray Large flat candybar phones!
I'm happy with my Touch Pro & Igo8 thank you very much.
I'm happy with my iPhone 3G White thank you very much.
Seriously the iphone maps are pathetic. It can't even reorient the map to the direction you are going never mind turn by turn.
Anybody happy with the iphone nav software is lost. Garmin is going to blow all other phones out of the water when it comes to navigation. The only question is what the rest of the phone is going to be like.
Can't wait to see how Verizon F's this one up, or how much they'll charge for VZNav...
Was there a mention of Verizon anywhere? Not being a smart ass, just curious. Got my fingers crossed for TMobile.
I've been waiting for this...but I don't see people giving up their iPhone for this..maybe if garmin ported its software to the iPhone..they could dominate the GPS market even more.
Definitely seems to be solving a problem most have never had.
The "brick" look is SO 1990's.
The Toshiba TG01 on the other hand has my full attention!
-ren
Design is critical and goes hand in hand with sales here in the usa. By the looks of this will not sell ,not to mention u got 2 hands in the pot trying to cash in. Asus n garmin will want equal profits, therefore driving up price. In order to be a success u must price $199 or under, that is new smartphone rule implemented by apple on july 11,2008. If they dont have right formula ,nuvifone will just sit on shelves or worst be marketed for some less knowledgeable consumer demographics,europe perhaps. Ask any ceo what product success is.,they will all answer the same. SALES.,my prediction this product will tank here in america.
blah blah blah
yakkity schmakkity
that line about europe is gonna win you a lot of friends
/sarcasm
WOW! You're that "average American" I've been hearing so much about. I don't know where you've been hiding... even in Kansas I haven't found you. BTW, sorry you lost the election. 1) ASUS builds many, many phones. This is nothing new. 2) Europeans less informed about tech than Americans? Impossible. -- Granted they have an unexplainable hard-on for Nokia's fantastic hardware, yet disgraceful software -- 3) Please go to school. Your grammar signifies your lack of even an elementary education.
im just glad garmin didnt give up the nuvi phone
garmin+asus= :)
The Blackberry's killer feature is e-mail...
The iPhone's killer features are the web browser, music and video, and the app store...
So the Nuvifone's killer feature is GPS? Is that what people are really looking for in a phone?
I love my Garmin Nuvi... but I never felt like I had to carry it with me at all times.
A lot of people carry them around with them all the time anyways. I don't, but a lot of people do, to prevent it from being stolen, or to from getting too hot or too cold sitting there in the car.
you do know that Symbian operating phones have Garmin software
the Nokia's N and E series that have built in GPS can install the Garmin software on their phone, the interface is the same as the Nuvi
I'm gonna be the 1st in line when this bad boy come out...
I'll bring the beer.
GSM, CDMA or both?
At long last someone has a relevant question to ask !
Apparently they're negotiating with North American GSM carriers (i.e. ATT and T-Mobile). My guess is that this will be headed toward ATT; we'll see though
sexy
You can install the garmin software on the blackberry storm. I looks like a Nuvi, works great and has real time updates and google live search. Its 80$ one time fee!
".....but we believe the software is more important then the OS."
WTF does that even MEAN?!
GIVE IT ANDROID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With just a little more maturation, any ol' full touchscreen phone running Android has every potential to be an iPhone killer, but we'll never get there unless we can get the devices in people's hands!
The phone is relevant if you don’t already have a portable GPS. I like the iphone, I have an ipod touch already but I’d like to get GPS so why not have an all in one device. Why have phone, mp3 player, GPS as separate units?
hello
I am so want to have!
Could have really used the maps last night (lost in the middle of nowhere - Montana???)... what's a city boi doing out here (that's BOISE)....
AND if they actually had broadband - I'd be game to drag my 360 up into the sticks, too (GSM is about it) :-)
gimme gimme gimmee, please
I highly doubt the initial nuvifone will compete. It will sell, as the hardware and software are both enough in their own rights to sell a phone, but won't sell much. I'm pretty sure the price will deter most buyers, unless they figure they're buying a full Nuvi and a full phone, which is exactly what the device is. We'll see how it all goes.
As far as I've seen, the software is coming along nicely, and the hardware is rock-solid just like everything else Garmin builds. If I didn't already have an iphone, I'd probably get myself one of these.
Wonder how this will work in states that allow GPS but not Cellular Phone usage.
I'm guessing it has a hands free function either built in or part of the car mount. Are there states that completely prohibit cell phone use in a car?