Google Maps enters Sat Nav free for all

Internet giant Google have recently entered the world of mobile phone satellite navigation with their new product Google Maps Navigation. Currently developed for use on Android 2.0 phones the system has pretty much every feature you could wish for in a sat nav product.

There’s live traffic updates, turn-by-turn directions, voice control and, of course, access to Google Maps and all its features, including Street View. Then there’s the price—it’s free!

That’s the good news. The catch is Google Maps Navigation relies on a mobile’s internet connection. The immediate questions that arise surround reliabilty and speed of access to Google’s data. There is the possibility of caching relevant maps to the phone, but that is not available just yet.

Whatever the current shortfalls you can bet the bottom dollar from the likes of Garmin and TomTom that Google is already working hard to resolve them. Mind, not really sure what the might of Google could do if the draconian Victorian Government gets its way and bans the use of mobile phones for in-car navigation.

There’s heaps more coverage on this product is available across the net, as you’d expect, here’s an article from the Telegraph.co.uk that gives a good introduction.

There’s also a cheesy video from Google available below that explains how the system works. Interestingly, you don’t actually hear any of the turn-by-turn directions that the phone is supposed to make. Oh, anyone who believes that Michael really is standing outside the front of the de Young Museum is easily fooled!