TomTom, Garmin and company were already facing market uncertainty as GPS and technological convergence chipped away at their market share. The iPhone has a number of navigation options in the App Store. Android users currently enjoy Google's free turn-by-turn navigation.
Google released its free turn-by-turn satellite navigation to Android users in the UK Thursday.
MacUser reported at a London press conference, Google said it plans to bring the free service to other smartphone platforms, including the iPhone. There were no specifics offered though.
However a Google spokesperson told PCWorld, "We did not say we would bring it to iPhone, we said to date we've had it on Android and that in the future it may come to other platforms but did not confirm this will be coming to iPhone at all."
Is this a case of a simple misunderstanding or is it 'revised history?'
This is speculation, but notice the spokesperson is not denying it. It could be the executive in London revealed too much too soon.
Could this be for the US too? Would Apple allow it given the number of paid apps in its App Store?
via MacUser
Matthew Fortner has been at The News & Observer since 2002. He has a passion for gadgets, cutting-edge technology and all things geek.
Comments
iPhone Navigation Apps work without Google
Sat, 04/24/2010 - 08:10 — johnfredI downloaded the free MapQuest app on my iPhone this past week and it effectively got me from LaGuardia to Murray Hill, NJ through a route I have never travelled before but that was quite efficient. The Google app looks like a better one but I can see no reason why someone with an iPhone would bother to invest in a dedicated GPS device. Go apps.