Google Maps Navigation could come to iPhone, other platforms soon
By Darren Murph 
posted April 23rd 2010 2:14AM
posted April 23rd 2010 2:14AM
Ooh, goodie! Try as we may, we've yet to really find a (good) free alternative to Google Maps Navigation on the iPhone, and while Navigon's MobileNavigator gets our highest recommendations in the paid GPS department, Google's own turn-by-turn option is just about enough to make any iPhone-toting traveler jump ship and snag an Android handset. Thankfully for us all, it seems as if this predicament won't be nearly as trying in the near future, with the company's own Steve Lee confirming to TechRadar that Google Maps Navigation would be coming to "other platforms" in due time. MacUser specifically mentions the solution coming to iPhone OS, and frankly, we couldn't think of a better app to ship alongside version 4.0 than this. You're good at taking hints, right Goog?
There's a map for that.
@Eminemdrdre00
Well I hope so, not sure how google maps are in the USA but in Australia they are out of date, not sure by how much, maybe a year.
It would be people in paddocks all over again
apple doesn't deserve it! (they're not very nice)
They should charge for it when they release it, just to stick it to Jobs a little, he's an A**. An I know that would actually hurt good will between iPhone users and Google more than hurt Steve Jobs. I just really wish someone would serve Jobs back with the same actions that he dishes out.
@Eminemdrdre00
What does the iPhone use right now?
Apple own's navigation software?
It gets the job done for me anyways. I don't understand why the Apple Haters care so much. Its not like they'd buy an iPhone even if Google maps was on it...
@thezero4
Charging for it wouldn't stick it to Jobs, he would just make more money on the cut.
If Google wanted to "stick it" to Apple, they would just stop supporting the iPhone platform altogether.
@TheLondonExchange
The iPhone doesn't have any (free or pre-installed) navigation software. It has Google Maps but not with Navigation like Android does. I can give you directions, just like Google Maps on a PC, but no turn-by-turn or spoken directions.
@Eminemdrdre00 Probably the best free navigation software. But doesn't compare to Navigon which is simply the best! My comparison is the navigation that comes with the Nexus One v. Navigon on an iphone. For route planning and turn by turn in Washington DC. Navigon is the best. Even better than the navigation in my Jag.
@ACiDXeNo
so, "other platforms" automatically means apple? i'd see it coming to every other platform out there before it hits apple....just sayin, not hatin
@Eminemdrdre00
nooooooooooooooo i dont want Apple to have it!!
I want it all for myself on my N1 :)
@Eminemdrdre00 : In-N-Out Burger!
@ACiDXeNo LOL that's exactly what I was thinking. Why would Google want to give this feature away for free? Its not like they can make money off of it and no competition except for Nokia has this killer feature. Why would u give that to your biggest rival.
@TheLondonExchange it uses Google maps but it doesn't have the free turn by turn directions that the android platform has.
@angermeans
Google does in fact make money from Google Maps.
Two words:
Sponsored Links.
@ACiDXeNo
Ha ha... your comment is so kiddish! You have no idea how businesses work!
He didn't let me borrow his bat so I won't go play in his backyard! lol...
Business is about sheer numbers on the earnings reports and not how sensitive the CEO is to some other CEOs comments/actions!
@nelagster
No worries. Apple won't be getting this anytime soon. Update this article engadget.
@mr88 There are free voice guided turn by turn navigation apps (i.e. Mapquest) in the iPhone App store, but there isn't anything preinstalled on the iPhone when you first buy it. The default google maps doesn't have voice guidance.
Doesn't sound promising
"just about enough to make any iPhone-toting traveler jump ship and snag an Android handset. "
because paying $500 for another phone that acts as a half-ass navigation sounds more logical than getting a $50 standalone garmin gps unit
@OSXsucks
I'm sorry your phone acts like a half-ass navigation device. My N71 works very well. The idea is that I'm buying the phone anyways, and it works very well here in Montreal, why buy the standalone GPS?
@OSXsucks A decent stand-alone GPS unit from Garmin with a wide screen and spoken street names would still run you a good $150+, if not $180. One that just tells you to turn left or right in X amount of miles could probably be had for $100 or less... Regardless of cost, for many people it's just the principle of the matter, being able to avoid lugging around one more device, not having to remember to charge one more device, etc.
@OSXsucks not so sure what's half assed about Google maps considering my Tom Tom has been collecting dust since I got my droid. I just moved to Dallas from Chicago and have yet to get lost even though I don't know anything around here. Voice directions through my car speakers, free live traffic, connects with Google search to easily navigate to places I'm looking for, and i have never been unable to get a signal. So that's 1 device replacing 3, Tom Tom, iPod, and old phone. Beats the heck out of having 3 separate chargers in my car.
We don't need another navi app.
Send from my iPhone 4G.
@ianpig stop
@WillSmith
hammerti-
...
get jiggy with it?
I would actually cry from happyness if this came to canada, for the palm pre. Considering its not out for android in canada, and that the pres google maps app is just a web app, I highly doubt it.
@Nimer55
I AGREE! (But for the blackberry, too) I already use maps on my storm, turn by turn would make me a happy camper :D
@Nimer55
I AGREE! (But for the blackberry, too) I already use maps on my storm, turn by turn would make me a happy camper :D
Lol, watch apple block it.
@mikemosh511 If you wanna be even more pessimistic, you could theorize that Google is putting it out there just to goad Apple into blocking it... ;)
@mikemosh511
I'd love to see Google give it to everyone but apple. Revenge for the Google voice denial BS.
Bring on the free step-by-step navigation for BlackBerry. Been without since Nav4all shut down.
In-N-Out FTW
@abedinthehouse
I had never known there was an In-N-Out in San Fransisco until I realized that wait, yes I did. It just sucks so much that I never go there so I forgot it existed.
all i could think about was "animal style" burger whilst reading the post
Probably would make sense to keep some things android exclusive so as to have more incentives to buy a android handset over an iPhone especially since iPhone could be moving out of exclusivity. Though, I'm sure one could argue twice as many reasons why its should be on iPhone.
Um, you honestly think iPhone users would go to Android JUST for this free navigation app?
If they are willing to deal with Android, and they want free navigation, they'd probably already be jailbroken and running a paid navigation app for free via app piracy.
I like Android n' all, but I'll keep my GPU-acceleration and smooth user interface, not to mention my faster and more secure built-in storage. I don't mind having 180k apps to choose from either, or the awesome jailbreak community. :)
@jellotime91
I'm sorry. I don't mean to LOL, but you said "security" and "iphone" in the same sentence :)
@higherdestiny What exactly isn't secure about the iPhone?
You've got your passwords with potential to wipe the phone after 10 wrong entries, you have Microsoft exchange email and wiping capabilities, you have the possibility to use MobileMe to remotely locate, wipe, or ping messages to your device if lost or stolen... Really why is it not secure?
@jellotime91 smooth interface? You clearly have not used 2 of the 3 current available iPhone models.
@stevelam Actually I used the iPhone 3G for an entire year, and it always performed smoothly as long as I wasn't jailbroken...
The iPhone 3GS is very very smooth and even jailbroken it performs very well...
And hm, I didn't know the original iPhone was still available! You must have a pretty awesome time machine!
Why would Google want to help out the enemy?
IF anything, they should block google maps from coming to the iphone
@purecussion
Ads.... Ads... Ads... Ads.....
@purecussion I hope Google overhauls it to use Flash. Heavily.
i dont get why google would share this with other platforms. i dont understand why they`re even talking about it before it`s available in more countries.
-annoyed canadian android user sans google nav
@scouzer Yeah this is another of Android's fragmentation problems - carrier and location controlled features and updates. I'm canadian too and I would HATE IT if Apple gave Americans a feature before us.. But they don't. That's the beauty of a closed platform on a small product line.
google makes no direct cash from android. The whole point of the platform is to get peolple using google, which is exactly what releasing google nav for the iphone does. The whole point of google maps is to get people using google over yahoo, or alltheweb.com (used it back in the day). Its the same reason they have translate, image search, reader, etc...
@Nimer55
Yes, this is something a lot of people forget. Google wants as far reach as possible, and if that means providing in platforms rival to their own, I'm sure they won't hesitate to do it.
However, given the current sour relationship with Apple, I'm not so sure it will happen for iPhone OS 4.0.
But I do understand a lot of Android fans will not like this kind of decision, as it will mean an exclusive feature given away.
@Nimer55 You're right, but I think it's really a ticking time bomb for advertisements and analytics. Google will cash in on these two fronts, both are in limited-availability beta mode.
I don't think they're helping the enemy. They're enticing them if anything.