For European Portable Navigation Device (PND) manufacturer TomTom and U.S.-based Garmin, Oct. 29, 2009 will indeed be remembered as the day everything changed.
“Google’s announcement that it plans to launch turn-by-turn navigation on the Android platform would be enough of a headache in itself, but giving it away for free? Sound the alarm!,” says Richard Robinson, iSuppli analyst.
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It looks like 2009 could be an interesting year for Android following the announcement by the Open Handset Alliance that it has 14 new members.
Topping the list of newcomers most likely to offer a handset to rival Google’s HTC-built G1 is Sony Ericsson.
The list also includes ASUS and navigation systems manufacturer Garmin.
With the market for personal navigation devices (PNDs) getting tougher and many smartphones now equipped with GPS, what does the future hold for the likes of TomTom and Garmin?
Smartphone.biz-news.com asked Chris Jones, VP and principal analyst with Canalys, what direction mobile navigation was taking.
The GPS maker Garmin has delayed plans to launch its Nuvifone smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2008 until the first half of 2009.
Obstacles in dealing with the various individual needs of each cell phone carrier were cited as the reason for the delay.