RIM buys Dash Navigation

Remember Dash? The upstart connected GPS maker who put out the much-loved Dash Express but didn't realize people didn't want to pay a monthly fee for GPS services and eventually folded in on itself? Well yeah -- they've just been snapped up by RIM, presumably meaning we'll see some nifty new online GPS action in future BlackBerrys. Terms of the deal aren't yet known, but we're eager to see how RIM plays with this with its carrier partners, most of whom charge extra fees for GPS features.

[Via Phone Scoop]

[kjb434 Posted Jun 4th 2009 3:25PM]

I never understood the charge for GPS. WinMo, Blackberry, Android, and iPhone can all have third party GPS apps that don't charge and utilized the phones built in GPS.

I love Windows Live Search and Google Maps Mobile on my ATT Tilt.

I used Live Search more since it has voice control.

[rudolphe Posted Jun 4th 2009 4:24PM]

I have a storm with verizon and can use any gps app I want without an extra charge from verizon or rim.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2009 3:58PM]

It is a bit annoying. AT&T "blocks" the BlackBerry Maps application, which is almost as good as the $10/month TeleNav utility they want you to shell out for. Fortunately, if you change to a non-AT&T theme, the app shows up again. So between BlackBerry Maps and Google Maps, you get everything except voice navigation.

[Eptin Posted Jun 4th 2009 3:34PM]

It's the logos. They both fell in love with each others logo.

[DeadRebel Posted Jun 4th 2009 3:46PM]

Sprint has turn-by-turn SprintNav included with any BB plan. So it's not really an extra charge with them. :)

[theattack Posted Jun 4th 2009 3:49PM]

the charge was for a claim of better traffic and similar services. I was really hoping the would just license out to Garmin/Tom Tom etc. That seems like a better fit than Rim.

[cardfan Posted Jun 4th 2009 4:02PM]

RIM needs to do something considering its 19th century OS..

[robothero Posted Jun 4th 2009 4:12PM]

and yet it still had 3 of the 5 top selling smartphones last quarter (including #1).

[WC066 Posted Jun 4th 2009 4:24PM]

yeah, they're two for the price of one! anyone can do it that way!

[TOPSPEED Posted Jun 4th 2009 5:47PM]

You mean 12th century OS. Dude, BBs are torture devices. No wonder it's so popular with the suits. Makes them feel like they're actually doing work.

[WC066 Posted Jun 4th 2009 4:22PM]

I hate BB. Their phones are like a crappy Treo 650 copy.

[Stanley Posted Jun 4th 2009 5:22PM]

GPSLogger is a great application for the Blackberry. The best part is that it's free and open source.

http://www.emacberry.com/gpslogger.html

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 4th 2009 6:19PM]

My RIM stock shot up 1.67 after this.

[ackthbbft Posted Jun 4th 2009 6:31PM]

The charge from Dash was for the wireless services on the device for live two-way traffic updates, internet search, Send2Car, etc. If you didn't pay for the two-way internet connectivity, you still had a working GPS device.

I'm not sure why people make such a fuss over "free" GPS service on their cell phones. They are paying for the wireless service, after all. Same thing here.

I have one, and it works OK. I hope RIM keeps it alive, if for no other reason than that I want my money's worth out of it. When I get my Palm Pre, though, I may just use its GPS service and give the Dash to my GF. (It is rather bulky, sadly.)

[bushi Posted Jun 5th 2009 3:31PM]

Dash was brillant in concept but crappy 1st gen hardware and a unfinished OS kicked it into the dead pool before release. I hope Rim runs with the ball and makes some magic happen.