T-Mobile Garminfone confirmed for June 9 launch, still a whopping $200 after rebate
By Chris Ziegler 
posted May 26th 2010 4:32PM
posted May 26th 2010 4:32PM
posted May 26th 2010 4:32PM
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T-mobile doesn't want anybody to get this phone.
@amardeus
I don't think this is REALLY worth $200
@BecauseItsNotGoogle
I would rather use a stand alone GPS navigation (if I needed something better then google maps) then buy this hybrid fail with android 1.6.
What's with t-mobile and crappy android phones lately? It matters not, as I will be switching to Sprint soon for the Evo.
@BecauseItsNotGoogle
You do know that this phone is built on Android 1.6, right? Stupid troll.
@BecauseItsNotGoogle u must have not used google navigation its perfect i couldnt ask for more.
ps we all know its you account5 how long till this name gets banned
The status bar looks like a Android Bar.
@Jaylittles531
Because it is an android phone.... just with serious UI overlay to make it THE gps device for taxi drivers
Those crazy Germans!
Garmin needs to stick with standalone GPS units and not get too far ahead of themselves.
@Stevenk stand alone units are dying. Phone nav is becoming "good enough" that people are starting to switch. There will be a market for stand alone gps for a while, but I doubt we'll see them 5 years from now.
TMobile has other phones worth getting for $200, I would rather get the 3G Slide then this (if I were a T-Mobile customer).
@Stevenk
This phone, much like stand alone GPS units, are doomed. That market was flipped on its head overnight due in no small part to Google introducing Android with free turn by turn navigation. The rise of fast, touch screen phones with GPS has made the stand alone GPS industry very worried. Suddenly, the data/map providers are more valuable than the GPS makers themselves. I'm very interest to see how TomTom and Garmin will adapt and evolve. As more phones and vehicles come equipped with capable GPS, the only differentiation will be the extra features and branding of the software they run. Perhaps we will see TomTom and Garmin striking more deals with auto makers and phone manufacturers in a last ditch effort to spur profits. The companies supplying the maps/data/updates suddenly have more value and leverage than the stand alone GPS manufactures.
I would not want to be in the standalone GPS industry right now.
@g00n It's not truly over until Google starts providing offline map guidance. That's the ace card Garmin, TomTom, iGo, etc, still hold.
That, and Garmin offers Desktop sync with their MapSource, maps and routing supported in more places in the world, navigation while on the ocean for the boat folks, and just years of features more than Google.
Bwahahaha! This is more expensive than a Nexus One!
Idiots!
...and it's loaded with Android 1.6, so you can't run Urbanspoon, Twitter, Flash, or any other app that requires 2.0+, which I'm seeing more of every week.
What the hell, T-Mobile & Garmin? There's no excuse for phones being released with outdated software.
ewwwwww its ugllyyy :P
We all know in the hood most people use tmobile.. none of my homies is gonna buy this!
or the nuron with free nav for $70
Does it have 2.2? It would be amazing if it does. Wonder how Garmin is going to keep it's software from piracy on Android. Any how I would love to see some custom Roms on this from other developers on http://www.androidtechnical.info/romlib.html
You guys really don't get it. This phone is not for teckies, it is made for those who spend a heck load of times in their car and have to deal with gps and so on. Taxi companies would definitely give the garmiphone a serious look...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Another dismal low level offering from t-mobile.
Can't say I quite get this. I mean, if they took the hardware design for their GPS units, merged it with a phone, gave it some decent specs, put some really great navigation software in there, and custom build the I/O to be easily docked into your car, all at a $100-$200 on contract price (sans rebate) then it could be justifiable. This just seems kinda silly.
"So naturally the big story here is with the navigation, and quite simply it's good. Very good, as you'd expect from a phone that sacrifices two thirds of its home page to giant nav-related icons. For those familiar with the earlier Garmin-Asus phones the interface here is quite similar, but for those who aren't we'll give you the details.
First-off, let's make it clear that this works completely offline, unlike Google Navigation, meaning you can still get directions even if you're standing in the darkest of data coverage black holes when beginning your trip" that's from the review from engadget.
This phone is not for power users... this phone is for people who travel a lot and dont want to have phone+GPS+autoradio+video player separately...
Get away with it... this phone is a GPS phone and it does what it needs to do very well.
it's probably half decent but it won't sell.
well to me this price is BS. They probably know they won't sell at this price so they put a higher price than the one at which they expect to sell and then:
a) company buys in and accepts the tariff because it's still better than having to pay for 2/3 devices separately
b) Company negociates and T-mobile has room to lower the price, in which case everyone is happy.
c) No one buys it and t-mobile is forced to lower its price.
Seems like a pretty niche product for sales and delivery people and taxi drivers. I may use my GPS once every couple of months.
Looks nifty, I'll definitely be using this when driving my $250,000 Hyundai around!!
I don't see much improvement from donut to eclair, but eclair to froyo is sure a much bigger gap.
Garmin seems to be assuming that handset buyers would rather have a great GPS with a mediocre phone. But actually, people want a great Phone and are willing to settle for a mediocre or average GPS solution.
Saying that this phone is targeted for non-techies who just want a GPS is joke. That is not the volume of sales they will need to sustain their mobile business side of things...sink or swim as they say.