Navigon is the 4th company to announce and now release a Navigation for the iPhone 3G, and for the first couple weeks, priced at a reasonable $70.00. Even at the eventual full price of $100.00 it’s still a great deal, since most big-name navigation apps charge a monthly fee, which seems to be settling across the App Store at about $9.99 (AT&T’s Navigation) I have been using AT&T’s App for about a month now and I like it I just don’t like that you can not turn the iPhone sideways. With Navigon’s you can, and even better is the 3D heads up display (as shown in the photo) There is a lot of up-keep, but it looks like Navigon’s one-off charge will work for the company, you only have to ask how they are going to handle map updates.. maybe they will use the feature Apple added in to the gaming API to buy more levels in a game…
…But $70 is still a lot, so before you take the plunge, here’s what you get:
MobileNavigator iPhone:
• 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance
• Lane Maps
• Speed warnings
• Day & Night Mode for map display.
• Navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone’s address book.
• Branded POIs and POIs along the route
• 2D and 3D map view
• Automatic switch between portrait and landscape format
• Intelligent address entry
MobileNavigator iPhone:
• Lane Maps
• Speed warnings
• Day & Night Mode for map display.
• Navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone’s address book.
• Branded POIs and POIs along the route
• 2D and 3D map view
• Automatic switch between portrait and landscape format
• Intelligent address entry
Full Press release:
NAVIGON Launches iPhone GPS Navigation for North America
First on-board iPhone solution from a major navigation company now available in the App Store
Hamburg/Germany, JULY 22, 2009 – NAVIGON AG, the leading innovator in the navigation market, today announced the availability of a North American version of its on-board navigation software in the iPhone App Store. The MobileNavigator transforms any iPhone 3G, equipped with the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system, and any iPhone 3G S into a complete navigation device.
Following its successful launch in Europe last month, NAVIGON is the first major navigation company to launch an on-board navigation solution for the iPhone in North America. In more than ten European countries*, the app was ranked within the top three of all paid applications in the Apple Store in the first week.
Compared to off-board navigation, NAVIGON’s on-board approach has a clear advantage: After downloading the GPS application, the software and map data is saved directly on the device. This means that users don’t have to pay subscription fees or wait for map downloads during the navigation. The software includes many of NAVIGON’s hallmark navigation functions such as Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant and Day & Night Mode. It also features NAVIGON’s sophisticated and elegant map views including branded POIs along the route. NAVIGON will even add more features with software updates later this year. The only requirement for using the MobileNavigator on the iPhone is the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system.
“By making the MobileNavigator for the iPhone available for users in North America, we are taking another major step towards the future market of GPS navigation on mobile phones,” said Egon Minar, CEO of NAVIGON AG. “The combination of NAVIGON’s signature navigation features with typical functions from the iPhone creates an integrated and unique experience.” The map display, for example, switches automatically from portrait to landscape view as soon as the iPhone is turned 90 degrees. There is also the option of navigating directly to an address from saved contacts. If the iPhone is used for talking on the phone during navigation, the software resumes automatically after the call has ended. Furthermore, the multi touch function of the iPhone is integrated into the app and allows users to easily zoom in and out the map view with two fingers.
The NAVIGON solution sells for $99.99 and is equipped with maps of North America from NAVTEQ®. It will be available for a promotional price of $69.99 until August 15.
For more information and FAQs, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone. A video of the MobileNavigator for the iPhone can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/kq2a5q. You can also follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/NAVIGON_. Contact Johan-Till Broer (details below) for images.
Key features of the NAVIGON MobileNavigator for the iPhone:
Reality View™ Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit drivers will encounter.
Lane Assistant Pro helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.
Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning.
Day & Night Mode for map display.
Direct Access allows navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone’s address book.
Branded POIs and POIs along the route
2D and 3D map view.
Automatic switch between portrait and landscape format.
Intelligent address entry.
Real signpost display.
*Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland
Recent update September 16, 2009:
Navigon adds an Extra $25 for Real-Time Traffic Data and also added Text to speech for turn-by-turn.
Last week we got free text-to-speech and iPod controlupdates, Navigon’s back with a new feature announcement for their iPhone app.
