Since GPS capabilities on smartphones have basically rendered dedicated GPS personal navigators redundant, it looks like href=”http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Garmin”>Garmin plans to not let that happen. The company has announced the launch of Smartphone Link, an app for Android phones that makes their personal navigators useful again. Smartphone Link will let users connect their Android phones to their 2012 Garmin Nuvi over href=”http://www.bluetooth.org/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Bluetooth”>Bluetooth so that they can communicate and share data.This will allow users to add live services such as traffic information, traffic camera images, weather, and fuel prices to the personal navigator using the phone’s mobile data plan. A pretty nifty idea if you ask me – since it also lets users save the battery on their smartphone and they get access to a more accurate and have better GPS reception. However this means you’ll need to bring out both devices with you on your long drives.
The app will be available free on the href=”http://www.android.com/market/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Android Market”>Android Market with live weather information and myGarmin messaging, but for services like Live Traffice, photoLive traffic cameras, fuel prices and advanced weather will require additional subscription fees.
