| Recently an increasing number of mobile phones | | | | based upon the already proven interface on |
| have come with certain GPS and satellite | | | | Garmin's existing Nuvi Sat-Nav system. |
| navigation applications and functions; the HTC | | | | Official specs are nigh-on-impossible to get hold of |
| Artemis range and its bundled TomTom navigator | | | | at this time, but there are some sketchy details |
| software being possibly the best-equipped. This | | | | out there at the moment. The Navifone will have |
| has obviously helped in highlighting the fact that | | | | a (as mentioned earlier) 3.5" touchscreen display; |
| Sat-Nav is fast becoming an essential part of any | | | | HSDPA 3G access; digital camera with video (no |
| multimedia device. | | | | Mega Pixel count yet) and media player with |
| To date there hasn't been a handset that is built | | | | support for all the latest music file formats such |
| from the ground up for this purpose, but | | | | as AAC+ etc, though this is still awaiting |
| GPS-giants Garmin have done just that with the | | | | confirmation. |
| Navifone. | | | | The Garmin Navifone will have 3 different ways in |
| In a varying range of blog and mobile news | | | | which to use the device, all of which can be |
| websites, the Navifone has been touted as an | | | | selected with a single tap on the relevant |
| iPhone competitor, which is very surprising but | | | | on-screen option. The options are pretty |
| more feasible than appearances may have you | | | | self-explanatory - Phone; Search & Navigation. |
| believe. | | | | The search option in case you're wondering is for |
| This assumption is based around the 3.5 inch | | | | locating your own position when lost, via the |
| touchscreen, which as you would expect is the | | | | integrated Google local search option. |
| main method of using the phone in almost all | | | | The Sat-Nav capabilities are also based on |
| situations. This is coupled with the simplistic yet | | | | Garmin's standalone Nuvi series of GPS receivers |
| attractive-looking interface and in some aspects | | | | and are likely to be one of the best seen in |
| you can see why it has been given the dreaded | | | | mobile phones capable of this. |
| task of competing with the iPhone. | | | | Once more specific details and specs are available |
| As this phone hasn't been shown first hand to the | | | | we'll have a better idea of how the Garmin |
| industry officially, it's hard to make any kind of | | | | Navifone will fit into the mobile phone marketplace |
| judgement regarding the effectiveness of the UI, | | | | once released, but until then methinks it'll be one |
| but if it is as innovative as the iPhone was, things | | | | to watch closely over the coming months. |
| could get really interesting. We do know that it is | | | | |