What Google Navigation Means for iPhone Maps App, and for Turn-by-Turn Competitors
So while the dust is by no means settling following Google’s bombshell announcement of their free Google Maps Navigation app for Android 2.0, it’s thinning enough that we can start to survey the landscape again.
In terms of the iPhone, Google is saying they’re working with Apple to add the same or similar navigation features to the iPhone’s built in Maps application that Android 2.0 now enjoys. TechCrunch thinks that, in light of the Google Voice situation, Google should make Apple beg for what they say is best car navigation software, with the richest feature set in the space (or at least the US space, since it’s not international yet). They see it as a replay of when Apple had to beg Microsoft to keep Office on the Mac, with the cloud being the modern “killer app” equivalent of productivity software then.
Apple is in a terrible position here because the future of mobile apps are Web apps, and Google excels at making those. Apple needs Google, it’s most dangerous competitor in the mobile Web market, to keep building apps for the iPhone. Google would be foolish not to since the iPhone still has the largest reach of any modern Web phone. But it will no longer be a priority.
However, Google delivering Google services to Android — Google’s own OS — makes sense. Android got native push Gmail before anyone else (something most handsets still don’t enjoy, GoogleSync being the alternative). Likewise, Google Street View was first shown off on the Android during it’s initial unveiling.
For arguments sake then, let’s say Google does indeed work with Apple to bring Google Maps Navigation to the iPhone Maps app and to all those search-happy, high-value iPhone users’ eyeballs — again, for free — where does that leave existing, premium priced, iPhone turn-by-turn software makers?
Navigon, one of the highest grossing apps in the iTunes App Store, told TiPb:
[Google's] app is not available for the iPhone yet and on Android it’s just launching, so we’ll have to see how professional the navigation experience really is and how well the map material supports navigation functionalities. We have over 18 years of experience in the navigation field which lets us develop unique and high quality features not found on other navigation software and we are using maps that were created specifically for this use case. We provide excellent features such as Text-to-speech, Reality View™ Pro and Traffic Live and are convinced that consumers will pay extra dollars for a better, and more premium navigation experience. Besides, their solution is off-board which means that the navigation is interrupted when there is no cell phone signal available while our iPhone app is on-board and therefore works like a traditional navigation device – you will continue to get directions even without cell phone signal. This is particularly relevant in Europe where you have to pay extra roaming fees when using an off-board solution and traveling from one country to another. In addition, we already have navigation solutions for Android as well as WindowsMobile and Symbian smart phones on the market in Europe and are currently evaluating the options for launching some of these in the US as well – including Android. Our iPhone app is currently the top 3 grossing app in the App Store.
TeleNav, which supplies the service behind the subscription-based iPhone’s AT&T Navigator app, had this to say:
It’s premature to assume that this will have any dramatic impact on the industry. We will see how many phones the service launches on, the content and usability, as well as consumer feedback before we make any assumptions or conclusions about any impact on the industry. We know that people value navigation and are willing to pay for a high-quality, differentiated service.
Certainly there are many industries where people are willing to pay a premium price for premium services. Will navigation software for mobile devices be one of them? Or is paid navigation software about to go the way of paid web browsers?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
My only comment is…when you have to compare this…to a $119 accessory
What would YOU pick.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Second
October 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Third.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Navigon will still be superior. While a free navigation will be widely used, it will still be streaming. This means dead batteries and hot phones (android or otherwise). A nav app with saved maps will always offer a more reliable an user friendly experience.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
As I’ve said before for you guys who like to be “first”: Try to be “last”. It would be very difficult and challenging.
….I can picture it now….A bunch of ____s trying to be the last to post…It would probably go on for years….
October 28th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Don’t be bitter blake, it’s not hurting anyone
October 28th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
EIGHTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 28th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
NINTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Just to be clear, the google navigation app caches the whole route at the beginning of the trip. So, you don’t need to have data service during the whole trip, just at the start.
I think google will take awhile before they make the iPhone version. And, who knows if Apple will even allow it in it’s full featured form. I like my 3gs, but Android is making it hard to stay with it. Can’t wait for the Android HD2.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Show me a nav unit today that doesn’t require a cigarette lighter plug to go any distance.
The nav companies are putting on a brave face but for 90% of the public, the Google app will be GOOD ENOUGH, and that’s all you need. Hell, if I’m relatively familiar with an area and I need to get to an address I don’t already know, I’ll use the Google app on the iPhone even if it’s not turn by turn. I only pull out the GPS when I really don’t know where someplace is.
The Google Nav app will store the route, so as long as you don’t deviate too far from the guidance, you’ll be fine without signal. And don’t you think that Google will be smart enough to figure out where the cell towers are and modify the downloads accordingly? Maybe not with this version, but a future version? I’d lay odds that they will.
Those nav companies are dead. They just haven’t fallen over yet.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
@Frederick
I agree. I used to have the AT&T Navigator when I was with them. I worked for a utility meter reading company back then…I BARELY used the turn by turn when finding where I needed to go. Besides that…Google Maps sufficed.
I know when I upgrade to the Droid (or whatever 2.0 device will be out by Feb) I’ll be satisfied with the gMaps Navigation.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Bombshell announcement? Hardly.
This is nothing to pitch a tent over.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
10 I would love to have this on my iPhone !!!!!!!! Love u google
October 28th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
hopefully this anouncement makes tom tom, navigon, and others push their software to a higher level. it does not sound like good news when someone can go out there and get it for free though.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
@fastlane
if you don’t think that’s a bombshell announcement, tell that to the shareholders of Tom tom, navigon, etc. All those companies had very significant losses today. Which means it was both an unexpected announcement (otherwise it would have already been taken into account with the stock price) and that it was important (otherwise it wouldn’t have has such a drastic impact on the price). The definition of a bombshell is that it’s unexpected and important.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Yawn…
October 28th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
@ Joe mcg it may cache at the start, but If you miss one turn, your going to have to download again, and that takes time, while you miss turns, IF YOU HAVE SERVICE!!!! I have used Att nav as well. It’ll be a polished version of the same thing, which is sub par.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Last
October 28th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Last?
October 28th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Last!
October 28th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
LAST!
October 28th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
RON JEREMY SAYS OH-SNAP TO ALL THOSE OTHER EXPENSIVE *** NAVI-APPS IF THIS COMES THOE iPHONE FOR FREE. RON JEREMY WOULD LIKE TO USE FREE NAVIGATION APPS ON HIS iPHONE WHEN CRUISING THRU THE VALLEY.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
really wonder after google talk and latitude will google put this on a iphone, but then again google is not apple and does not hold a grudge.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Last!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Hey goog,
how about building latitude into the navigation app too.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Lol – I’m with techCrunch – apple should be forced to beg for it. I’d go one better if I were Google. No google voice then no google nav!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:37 am
I don’t see this being a threat to traditional on-board navigation systems. For subscription- based, maybe. But nothing more. The biggest risk with Google-like systems is poor reliability in sub-optimal network conditions and roaming charges. I suspect that after initial period of excitement people will be still bying Navigons and TomToms to have some fallback solution.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:40 am
I spoke of this earlier today. Search function on Navigon pretty much sucks. The POI’s leave lots to be desired. I have only been using navigation for a few months, but the killer feature is great search function – and Google navigation has that. Navigon doesn’t.
If the program can’t find your desired location or you have to go online to find the address, write it down and then search by City/address as you have to do in Navigon, it doesn’t matter how cool the rest of the navigation works. I have had a number of experiences with Navigon where it took me 5 – 10 minutes to get a location set to navigate. I have had a few times where after I put the address in the search, Navigon still couldn’t find it.
If Navigon and it’s competitors can’t get Search to be easy, Google will wipe them out, no matter how cool their ‘other’ features are. They may get wiped out no matter what they do.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:55 am
I hope this is coming to all countries. ATM here in Japan there are just 2 Nav Apps and they require a connection as well. Those will definitly be killed
October 29th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Last!!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Good idea Blake
October 29th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Comparison to Navigon is the wrong target.
The big dog in nav space is Garmin. They have the best routing, and the best maps of all those guys.
Google has always uses Tele Atlas (Nokia) and Navteq (Tom Tom) maps as well as a few others. Now if you look at Google maps (computer or iPhone) in most places (virtually ALL of North America) those copyrights are gone and Google is the only copyright shown for maps. (Images still carry other copyrights).
So while we all thought Google was fighting email, book scanning, voice problems they were actually busy mapping the world way better than any of those companies. And it will only improve over time.
Google stole a march on everybody by pooling imagery and just enough data points from public and purchased sources to do computerized mapping.
The results are awesomely accurate. Roads (in the far north especially) that were horribly inaccurate just a couple months ago are now perfectly aligned with the images. (Oddly, addresses are consistently off by a little bit in most places. Perhaps intentionally so.)
Now Google owns this space, and Apple has to play ball, and you can BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR that the price for getting turn by turn navigation into the iPhone will be Google Voice on the iPhone as well.
Too little too late is Apple’s purchase of that mapping company no one has ever heard of. A panic move on their part.
And Garmin is coming out with a phone. Why? so they can have a 3G receiver on board for map updates, search, etc. Also a desperate move.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:11 am
I’m LAST FOR NOW. Hello you below!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 1:37 am
This is getting way out of hand now… in the beginning there were “first” people and now “last”?! Seriously, get a life people. sigh
October 29th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Navigon came off as insecure with that lengthy response. All they needed to say was:
“B*tch I got this!”
October 29th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Last ultimo
October 29th, 2009 at 2:17 am
I am sooooo glad Google announced their own free turn-by-turn app. I know others may not be, but I feel delightfully blindsided by this. Also, I don’t think that there will be any reason for Google to hold a grudge against Apple for not putting that other app on the iPhone. After all, the turn-by-turn app is ad-supported, which means Google will be raking in the dough once the app gets on the iPhone. I think the only reason we don’t see it on the iPhone right away is that Google wants to do a test run before putting the app in the serious limelight that the iPhone audience brings. I’m only guessing here, but I think we’ll see the app on the iPhone before New Year’s Day.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Can someone say anti-trust?
October 29th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Either both will help me not get lost. I’ve tried other map applications, and they don’t work as well as these 2.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:51 am
This is to all the morons who say ” first” ” second” and last. FInd the closest cliff and drive off it.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:44 am
The vast majority of people buying dedicated Sat-Navs are the over 40/50 market. I believe they will continue to do so.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Last
October 29th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Good on Google for lighting a nit of a fire under the established players’ butts (Garmin, TomTom, Navigon, et al.), and it’ll probably turn out to be a nifty product for the US market, and/or anyone else who rarely travels internationally.
Everyone else who does travel internationally will be in for a rude awakening once they see two weeks worth of international roaming charges on their cell phone bill. And no, the “map caching” prior to leaving doesn’t count since it’s not just about getting there but also about getting around there.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:52 am
It’s a game changer.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:27 am
LAST!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:01 am
not last!!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:03 am
LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:43 am
The really issue will be AT&T crappy 3G coverage. Assuming the Google Nav requires somewhat good wireless coverage, all you have to remember is the new Verizon ads showing the differences in 3G nation wide availability. On a AT&T phone, you will need a backup nav app or stand alone GPS with internally stored maps to find just about anything!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Ultimate Last!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:53 am
FIFTY FIRST!!
Wankers are first! Is that really the only thing they can type?
For me, google maps is enough. I can’t justify paying $70-100 for a GPS app, would love it if I were offered a free option (even if I never used it).
October 29th, 2009 at 8:38 am
apple wouldn’t allow google to give us google voice for free, will they allow a free gps app from google that will hurt the 30% sales they can get from apps like tomtom charging 99 dollars, that’s a 30 dollar loss for them on each one of the those sales
October 29th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Lst
October 29th, 2009 at 9:23 am
56th and last
October 29th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Dang I love google ! I love anybody that makes this FANBOYS angry. Hahaha FANBOYS hahaha
October 29th, 2009 at 10:41 am
@Dionte
Its better the the $600 they would be losing when people decide to upgrade to a droid, instead of the 2010 iphone.. I’m willing to bet apple knows it has to make this work.. ohh, and LAST?
October 29th, 2009 at 11:29 am
@Bill You know it kills me that I have to say this all the time on here but I will repeat it again for airhead morons like yourself. Just because you have crappy 3g coverage where you live with at&t doesn’t mean everyone does. I live in upstate NY and 3g everywhere even in the sticks. And verizon does not have 3g coverage everywhere. Or coverage for that matter if they did my girlfriend who has verizon would not constantly ask to use my iphone when I am with her. Because her BB reads “NO SERVICE”.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:41 am
@macboy15
Its the grass is greener on the other side syndrome that far too many people have.. you’ll never be able to explain it to everyone.. everything is better until you have it. Its the way of our world. I’m just thanful that I have great coverage where I live, and don’t have to worry like some.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Last!?
October 29th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Last again?! Ok i downloaded navigon. With jailbreak! Not woth paying when its offered for free in other phone
October 29th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
fools.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I agree maybe this will make Navigon up there game on user input and might put pressure on teleatlas and navteq to get off their duffs and keep up with the road changes.
I will certainly not give up my gps that has maps on-device. Some day I might want to go to the US again. Remember all the poor folks who missed the chance to get a 6GB data plan.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
When I use my GPS I tend to type in my destinations rather than use a POI function. I also tend to travel to the US a fair bit. On that basis alone (only US support for Google Navigation for the moment) I’d go with Navigon or TomTom… but the fact both work completely offline as opposed to Google would seal the deal for those two for me.
Google Navigation would be a nice feature to have but I wouldn’t use it as my primary GPS program. Game changer? Not quite.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
October 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
What I’ve yet to see anybody mention is that Google’s Gears is native to Android handsets, so if it doesn’t do so already, I would imagine they’ll be integrating that as the product advances, along with some AI to harvest what they need when a signal exists so that some processing can be offloaded to the device, or maybe they’re already doing this. So you’d then have a situation where the device is self-reliant offline with maps, rerouting info, last downloaded traffic and static POI lists within x miles from the route, and will only require a connection for the initial route setup and for doing “fuzzy” searches that require the cloud as demonstrated yesterday, like the “museum with the King Tut exhibit” search they showed. That you’d need a connection for, but finding the nearest gas station along the route might not require a connection. The need for Gears could be a handicap for the iPhone if they did go this route.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
@fastlane… Please set your navigation to drive straight into a brick wall. Thank you.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
last last last
October 29th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I watched the YouTube video on this and really hope that it comes to the iPhone. ( really liking what I see coming from Android and hope iPhone keeps pushing to be better.) But anyway I like that this will push the Nav. Industry to be more competitve in features and prices. So either way we the buyers win here. So here’s to the comp. and a hope it comes to the iPhone to push it even further. I give this for google.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Last hehe
October 29th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
You guys will be waiting a long time.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I’m tired of being .05 & .99 for decent apps. Free is better than ‘GOOD ENOUGH’
October 29th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
1st after last… Lol
October 29th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I’m a genius…
October 31st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Is it possible that Google and Apple were in talks about this in April/May time, other than 3rd party apps and the Google Maps addition the new digital compass in the 3GS is pretty pointless however if a turn by turn based navigation app used the compass then the software will work more effectively. Not saying that this won’t work in old iPhones but tbh my location and direction on my iPhone 3G are quite out of place, but then I live in the middle of no where in England so they are less likely to work. Just my 2 cents
October 31st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
There is another player in the game that has the potential to change the mapping / navigation market in the future and drive down the price: OpenStreetMap ( http://www.openstreetmap.org ). It can be described as the wikipedia of maps and provides worldwide free mapdata for anyone to use. Some areas are already way more detailed than google maps and coverage is rapidly expanding. Although OpenStreetMap provides map data and not turn-by-turn navigation it self, and thus isn’t directly in competition to google maps but rather to Navteq and TeleAtlas, it provides developers with an easy and cheap way to create innovative new apps to compete with e.g. google maps, TomTom or Navigon. There are already many apps for the iPhone that use OpenStreetMap to provide cheap/free offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation and you can also get apps for Android, Windows Mobile, Java Mobile and many other devices including free navigatable maps for Garmin PNA’s and handheld GPS.
It also takes google’s “report a problem” feature one step further and allows you to directly and immediately fix any problems with the prominent edit button on the map.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Maybe in the US but in NZ data plan costs + reception means an off-line alternative is still going to be needed
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 am
This is indeed a “game changer”. There will be a market for offline mapping software, but it will be a much smaller market. There will also be pressure on international carriers to lower their data rates. It certainly makes the Telenav products look obsolete.
I get a kick out of the “people will pay for quality” line. Have they seen the video? The quality will be best when you have a data connection and use this.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
But over all the app is free and from the recent reviews pretty darn good…. I have telenav and I have to say that it is getting worse and worse for me but that is me I don’t know about anyone else…. also why would someone want to pay a premium for a service that can be free
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
… and no final LAST?
November 4th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
LAST
November 6th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
LAST.
If Apple doesn’t cooperate with Google and release Google Maps Navigation, you can bet that millions of iPhone users like myself will be angry at AT&T and Apple for shoving again a free and excellent service for the profits of AT&T and the GPS apps in App Store. They will face the heat, trust me.
And this time, the FCC might become involved with a full blown investigation, after the infamous Google Voice app reject by Apple. (Oops, did I say reject? I meant “under consideration,” as AT&T would like us all to believe).
LAST.
November 7th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I have Navigon for iPhone and LOVE it, but the POI aren’t great. I’ve been thinking about switching to Droid to get Google Nav, but I’m not sure if I should. I know the Verizon network is better where I live.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:21 am
When you write “during it’s initial unveiling” I believe you meant “during its initial unveiling.”
November 19th, 2009 at 12:15 am
FREAKING FINALLY LAST!!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Any new word on the Google navigation iPhone app?
November 24th, 2009 at 5:19 am
ST
no word.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:25 am
i think that when google navigation come to iphone it will make iphone just that more popular and in demand i think that apple is giving the other company time to make ajustment of the change i also think that the price will come down so the customer that do like those other companye will stil buy because some money is better than none.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:42 am
LLLLLL AAAAAA SSSSSS TTTTTT !!!!!!