Google's rumored [1] free turn-by-turn navigation app is a reality--the web services giant confirmed the launch of Google Maps Navigation (Beta) for its new Android 2.0 operating system, issued in conjunction with Motorola's forthcoming Droid smartphone. According to Google, the mobile app boasts all the familiar bells and whistles of GPS-based navigation systems, like 3D views, voice guidance and automatic re-routing, but was built to take advantage of smartphones' constant connection to the web, enabling features like real-time traffic views, street and satellite views, updated map and business data, and searching by voice, plain English or according to routes. For now, Google Maps Navigation is exclusive to the Droid and limited to the U.S.
"Obviously, we like the price of free and consumers like that as well," Google CEO Eric Schmidt said during a preview of the service, adding the company can figure out how to make money from the product later. Conventional wisdom suggests Google Maps Navigation will follow the firm's familiar free, advertiser-supported model, especially given ads will be particularly valuable integrated with software that can target a user's precise location and destination. Google is already running ads in Apple's iPhone map application, which it helped create.
Most navigation app providers charge $5 or $10 per month to subscribe to their service, casting their current business models in grave doubt. "Google has clearly been investing in mapping," said Steve Andler, vice president of marketing with mobile navigation firm Networks in Motion, in a recent interview with Forbes [2] predating Google's official announcement. "Carriers totally control what's on these devices. But if Google controls the operating system, the carriers won't be able to get rid of its services, including a navigation app." Networks in Motion is the developer behind Verizon's popular VZ Navigator application--according to metrics [3] issued by the operator earlier this month, the $9.99-per-month app generates more than 8.5 million monthly searches for traffic updates and detours around congestion, an increase of 93 percent over the previous year.
For more on Google Maps Navigation:
-read this Official Google Mobile Blog entry [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/google-work-free-navigation-app/2009-10-26
[2] http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/23/android-navigation-internet-technology-wireless-google.html
[3] http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/vz-navigator-verizon-wireless-helps-you-find-and-find-your-way-popular-destinations-0
[4] http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2009/10/announcing-google-maps-navigation-for.html