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Telmap taps NAVTEQ for iPhone GPS solution, understands the inevitable
Man, talk about awful timing. At least TomTom and Navigon were able to sell a few rounds of their pricey iPhone GPS application before Google went and ruined everyone's day (at least in the GPS biz), and now that Google Maps Navigation is but an approval away from hitting iPhone users for free, we've got serious doubts about Telmap's ability to market its newest product. Utilizing NAVTEQ maps and familiar shells like MapQuest Navigation (in the US) and Orange Maps (in France), the company seems quite proud of its newest routing solutions. Oh sure -- there's live traffic, turn-by-turn guidance, in-car and pedestrian modes, etc., but is anyone really doling out cash for a phone-based routing system right now with Google at the wheel? Exactly.
MapQuest jumps into navigation pool
MapQuest is now offering a GPS navigation system for iPhone users in the U.S. and Canada. MapQuest Navigator [iTunes link] is U.S. $0.99 for a 14 day trial. After than you have to buy it for $3.99 a month, $9.99 for 3 months, or $29.99 a year.According to the company, key features include: Streamlined 3D Interface: Features voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation that speaks directions and street names. Regular Data Updates: Search 16+ million points of interest and utilize up-to-date street maps. Full Route Corridor Download: Quick route re-calculation for missed turns as well provides continued service in areas of no cellular coverage. Traffic Incident Based Routing: U.S. routes are optimized to avoid traffic incidents that might delay your travel. MapQuest Place Carousel: Easily displays locations for hotels, movie theaters, gas stations, and more with a single tap. Most of the data for the app comes over the internet, so MapQuest Navigator has a small 2.9MB footprint. If you'd like to see a video demo of the app, go here.We've asked for a copy so we can put it through our rigorous review trials and compare it to the other systems we've used, so more to come.
