T-Mobile Garminfone official: Android, 3 megapixels, zero nuvi branding

We've known that Garmin-Asus has been working on a phone with T-Mobile's 3G bands for a while, but now we finally know what it is: meet the Garminfone. Yes, just "Garminfone" -- you won't find an ounce of nuvifone branding here, despite the fact that the device is a dead ringer for the nuvifone A50 announced back at MWC, which leads us to believe that AT&T might hold the exclusive American rights to market the name with its own G60. Whatever the case may be, you can expect a 3 megapixel autofocus cam, microSD expansion up to 32GB, WiFi, and full HSPA alongside Garmin's own flavor of Android (currently based on 1.6, we believe) that emphasizes its nuvi-esque navigation capabilities on a 3.5-inch HVGA display. As you might expect, it'll come bundled with a charging dash / windshield mount (notice those gold connectors on the side of the phone) when it launches "later this Spring." Follow the break for the full press release.

T-Mobile Garminfone official: Android, 3 megapixels, zero nuvi branding

Show full PR text

Garminfone, exclusively from T-Mobile USA, Inc., is the first Android-powered smartphone and fully integrated Garmin Ltd. navigation experience in one. This sleek device features multiple positioning technologies and on-board maps to provide navigation from the middle of town to the middle of nowhere - and back. A full-touch 3G smartphone, Garminfone provides driving, walking and public transportation navigation with voice and on-screen directions and automatic re-routing. Helpful Garmin travel applications such as dynamic, real-time traffic; weather; estimated time of arrival; and gas prices are pre-installed and easy to access and use. Garmin Voice Studio, an exclusive Android navigation application, allows customers to record custom voice directions from family and friends. And with access to Android Market, customers can choose from among thousands of applications to enhance their journeys.

Garminfone also delivers essential smartphone capabilities, including easy access to personal and corporate e-mail, messaging, full HTML Web browsing and a 3-megapixel camera. In addition, Garminfone allows customers to easily call, navigate and charge the battery simultaneously with the included dashboard and window mount.

Key features of Garminfone
Premium Navigation and Design Features
Voice and on-screen turn-by-turn directions with automatic re-routing for walking, driving or public transit
Lane guidance, junction view, speed indicators and expected time of arrival
North America maps, including nearly six million points of interest are pre-loaded on the phone for fast and always-available acces
Multiple positioning technologies provide location no matter where you are
Pre-installed travel applications include dynamic, real-time traffic, weather and localized information, including nearby gas prices, restaurants, movie times and more
Garmin Voice Studio, an exclusive Android navigation application that allows customers to record custom voice directions from family and friends
Premium services including flight status, local search and more
Large 3.5-inch capacitive touch display with auto day and night modes
Charging dashboard and window mount included

Web Experience
Full HTML Web browser with pinch and zoom capabilities
Integrated Google™ technology including preloaded applications such Google Maps™ Street

Multimedia Features
3-megapixel autofocus camera with digital zoom
Music player that supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, MPEG4, WAV and MIDI
Stereo Bluetooth 2.1/A2DP
MicroSD expansion slot supporting optional removable memory up to 32 GB
Built-in mini USB

Staying Connected
Easy access to personal and corporate e-mail, including support for Microsoft Exchange, AOL®, Windows Live Mail, Gmail™ and most other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services
Google Talk pre-loaded
Built-in support for Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE world phone [phone] MHz)
Dual-band 3G UMTS/HSPA world phone (Bands I& IV)

Additional Features
Dimensions: 4.57 inches x 2.45 inches x 0.51 inches; Display: 3.5 inches; Weight: 4.8 ounces
Talk time: up to five hours; Standby time: up to 10.4 days
View, YouTube™, Google Search™ by voice and
Google Talk™ - and access to Android Market

Availability
Garminfone will be available in the U.S. exclusively to T-Mobile customers later this spring. More details are available at http://www.garminfone.t-mobile.com.

[PENISCRUSHER Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:02AM]

They just dont give up do they?

[month Posted Apr 21st 2010 1:58AM]

@PENISCRUSHER

At least it's a nicer design this time

[CmdX Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:06AM]

@PENISCRUSHER

It depends. Does this include all of the Garmin data being pre-loaded onto the device? Because that is the real risk with Google Nav, that you will end up in a dead spot somewhere with no data service and be totally screwed for the first portion of your trip.

[dagetz Posted Apr 21st 2010 6:08AM]

@PENISCRUSHER Wait whats that google navigation starting to be released world wide...I think you are clutching at straws garmin :P

[Xtole Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:22AM]

@PENISCRUSHER
They? Are you referring to T-Mobile or Garmin?

[filjosh Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:08PM]

@PENISCRUSHER Is it gonna have pre loaded maps like Garmin stand alone GPS systems? does this means Garmin app will be available on all Android phones? if Yes then thats the gr8 news, I'm not a fan of google navigation but I'm of garmin's look and feel and usability

[relicamonchin Posted Apr 21st 2010 3:50PM]

@CmdX it depends on your preferences actually, but one should know that the price of GPS devices should not be too costy. Guide. http://j.mp/guide-cheap-gps

[cherubdawg Posted Apr 21st 2010 4:02PM]

@CmdX As soon as you create a trip, Google nav preloads all map data along your route.

Either way, there's still a lot of advantages to having all the map data of an entire region (like north america) preloaded. I'm sure the GarminFone does it because that would be the only purpose of it's existence. Nokia users, on the other hand, get the best of both worlds.

[Evan Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:03AM]

Android phones sold through AT&T are a joke.

[zeroinfinity2 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:09AM]

@Evan
good thing it's being sold by t-mobile then,right?

[yulebellow Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:19AM]

@Evan

Comments delivered through you are a joke

[Darkseider Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:03AM]

Craptastic!

[Mr w00t Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:55AM]

@Darkseider Engadget seems to like it since they didnt make any special jokes like they do with Sony Ericsson and Nokia.

Wait!! Is it because it is prohibited to mock American companies?! Me think so...

[Kwame Nkrumah Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:04AM]

Will this fail as big as the last one?

[TheGr8t1 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:14AM]

@Kwame Nkrumah It is going to fail even harder. The question is will Garmin "find a way" to recover from Ovi Maps, Google Nav Beta, and other cell phone navigation

[HurricaneDC Posted Apr 21st 2010 1:34AM]

@TheGr8t1 Garmin does a lot of non-automobile navigation stuff as well. Boats and planes IIRC.

[NuShrike Posted Apr 21st 2010 1:47AM]

@HurricaneDC Problem is they're using the same routing engine forever. It's so slow compared to iGo8. It's flexibility is to be envied though with downloading maps selectable by state, generating your own maps, maps for almost all places in the world, and syncing between desktop and device.

[Ducman69 Posted Apr 21st 2010 5:49AM]

@HurricaneDC Their airplane navis absolutely dominate the market, but they are also ridiculously overpriced.

[Rem DX Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:27AM]

@TheGr8t1
Nokia did an update to Ovi maps, changing the interface and the way you can search for places and I gotta admit it's pretty crappy now.

I can't search places by name anymore and scrolling on the map while navigating isn't possible anymore either(why would they take this feature off?).

And to add insult to injury, some pop-up keeps coming up telling me to pay something.

I'm using a Nokia 5800XM and Ovi maps going free was what kept me from switching. Now, after their 'improvements' this Garminfone is looking pretty damn good.

[herloboy Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:05AM]

Why...

[gigarath Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:06AM]

This looks really useful for people who drive, but seeing as I don't, not interested.

[TangoEchoXray Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:06AM]

Awesome, the I can immediately download Google Maps with Navigation.

What was the point again?

[TimeForTheFairTax Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:13AM]

@TangoEchoXray

Chances are that in those places where you really need a map data service will be sketchy at best...

[Atlantian Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:28AM]

@TimeForTheFairTax thats true just read it had 4gb on internal rom

[Celz Posted Apr 21st 2010 3:35AM]

@TangoEchoXray This is for mountainers, boaters, and the average customer.. You know people on T-mo who are used to not having any coverage.. Lol couldnt resist it

[everyone does Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:08AM]

um wut?

[Cg006 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:10AM]

Garmin needs to create an app just like tomtom and navigon already. their gps units all suck now. only 1 model has the google search services (which i personally love) and all the others dont even have mp3 capability.... my iphone with tomtom works great but i like having my separate gps unit.

[bonesb Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:28AM]

@Cg006 No offense, but where have you been looking? Garmin XT has been around for several years, just not for the iPhone - it's been on other platforms for at least 5-6 years...

[iCello Posted Apr 21st 2010 6:19AM]

@bonesb So what's it on? Blackberry? I really want navigation on a under 3 inch screen.
Windows Mobile? Will, I guess that would work if you like WinMo, although for garmin it's not good considering winmo is slowly being phased out by WP7.
Symbian? No US marketshare.
Maemo? See above.
So if it's not out for Android or iPhone, it essentially does not exist.
Oh and WebOS? WebOS is wonderful but has practically zero marketshare.

[Cg006 Posted Apr 21st 2010 6:43AM]

@iCello
5-6 years is an eternity in the tech world. I forgot about the old winmobile having a version. I think they gad one for laptops as well with a usb stick that had the gps antenna.If garmin would have an app for current OS, that would be the best. I prefer garmins simple set up to navigation. Navigon and Tomtom's menus are too convoluted. I like garmins simple interface.

[iCello Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:44AM]

@Cg006 Well, no argument there. And the gps stick plus nav software for laptops is pretty cool. Forgot that existed.

[Cg006 Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:55AM]

@iCello
The Ipad3g is gonna make a SICK!! GPS unit.

[gumol Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:42AM]

@bonesb Exactly! All they need to do is to make a good Garmin app for Android. It would be much cheaper to make and more profitable for them.

[Palomino Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:58AM]

@gumol Ummm, isn't that essentially what this is? It's an Android phone with Garmin software. Sure it's got additional Garmin branding on the phone, but essentially, it's still Android below, and should function like other Android phones.

[Rossgadget Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:11AM]

So... what's the final consensus on this? Is the nav any better than Ovi and/or Google Maps? Do you have to be on 3G constantly for it to work?

I know there was a feature article on this a few months back that compared all of the services... any changes since then?

[eddiet29 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:28AM]

@Rossgadget

According to Engadget you don't need a data connection for the maps -
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/garmin-asus-nuvifone-a50-runs-android-knows-where-you-are/

[Rossgadget Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:51AM]

@eddiet29

Thanks for the heads-up... reading those comments about solar flares on the referred article have me kinda worried now tho, LOL!

;)

[albinomexi Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:11AM]

I think my iPhone does nav better even when I think any nav app (Tomtom, navteq) are half baled compared to a stand alone gps such as the insignia from best buy

[xconan Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:11AM]

Hopefully this phone's navigation works in locations that T-Mobile signals are weak or can't reach.

[takinwande Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:04PM]

@xconan since you will not have to download maps as they come preloaded, it will.

[CJ100570 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:14AM]

DOA!

[yulebellow Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:17AM]

"T-Mobile Garminfone official: Android, 3 megapixels, zero nuvi branding, boredom, confusion, failure"

there I fixed it.

[Scape3d Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:19AM]

Why? Why is this phone happening? With things like free Sprint Navigation and Google turn-by-turn nav this thing is completely unnecessary.

[eddiet29 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:26AM]

@Scape3d

"....maps -- no need to download them over the network (and risk data dead spots)" - http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/garmin-asus-nuvifone-a50-runs-android-knows-where-you-are/

I'd consider that a reason why the phone may be necessary for some

[Qorious Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:28AM]

My dad would love this!!!

[Atlantian Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:29AM]

@Atlantian not so bad but ugly

[Smurf Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:30AM]

OMG. It's not a teh HTC EVO. No 4G? No 1920x1080 screen? No snap dragon? Psh, if you're not going to make a hyper phone, why bother?

Answer to all of these questions: Your mom and dad don't care about 4G, a pseduo-HD screen, or a 1ghz processor. And they're the ones who buy your phones. So hush.

Oooo... I'm trollin'. :)

[iCello Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:39AM]

This actually doesn't sound half bad if it has a good processor.
Looks good, nice screen, android, Tmobile so it's thousands less then some other carriers and can be taken overseas.
Of course, 3MP cam and android 1.6 are weak... Not to mention the utter pointlessness of a gps phone.

[rhackin Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:42AM]

"Full HSPA"???? Do you mean HSPA+?

[aschettler Posted Apr 21st 2010 1:38AM]

@rhackin Full HSPA, meaning HSDPA and HSUPA, not HSPA+. HSPA+ is only available in data cards at the moment and will be for at least a couple more months.