Last time I went on a vacation that required some driving in foreign lands, I had to lug my portable navi and all the accoutrements that went with it in my luggage. On top of that, I had to purchase mapping for the country I was going to. It was a small nav and the map data wasn’t that pricey, but I like packing light. That’s what’s so intriguing about navigation on your mobile phone. You’ll probably use your phone during your trip so it doesn’t add any bulk to your baggage, plus some phone-based navigation services allow you to purchase map data for the city you’re going to for a certain period of time.
We tried out Verizon’s VZ Navigator, Sprint’s Mapquest Navigation and TeleNav (available on a variety of providers) last year and found they worked well. Despite the small screens and the fact that, for some, the actual route planning was taking place not on your phone but a server far away, they all got us where we wanted to go with few complaints.
Now that Nokia, a company that has charged headfirst into the car aftermarket, has come up with a new version of their navigation software, I’m curious to try it out. Their Nokia Maps 2.0 has a new user interface, improved car navigation and for pavement stompers, it also includes public transportation info in 17 cities. The optional pedestrian navigation also gives you visual guidance with info about surrounding buildings, streets, parks, etc. It sounds great, as portable navis made for cars usually are lacking in the on-foot department.
Unfortunately, though the maps are free you still have to pay for turn-by-turn navigation. Usually if you already have a data plan on your phone, phone navigation costs about $10 a month extra. However, for navigation without the monthly fee, you can always opt for a smartphone with an external GPS antenna. The GPS receiver links to the smartphone via Bluetooth and the phone does all the routing computations. Something like Garmin’s GPS 10x does just that for a couple hundred dollars up front. Route 66 also offers something similar. It’s something to think about if you want to pack light this summer.