Google has announced a free satellite navigation application and free music search in smartphones that operates through Google’s Android operating system. It will be initially available in US, on Motorola Droid phone, which employs Google’s Android 2.0 software. This new navigation system will add real time directions, Google street view photos, voice technology and real-time traffic data.
Unlike TomTom and Garmin sat nav, Google’s Sat Nav Application uses smartphones’ internet connection to receive most of the up-to-date information. It receives maps and business listings from Google’s maps. Thus, the users would not need to buy map upgrades. Another asset of Google’s sat nav application is that the users do not want to enter the full address, instead a name of the landmark is enough to find the place. Google’s street view could be also accessed that allows the users to have more clear and realistic view of the streets.
Google’s music search automatically include the links to audio preview of songs, artists and albums. It has also partnered with Gracenote, to enable users to find songs without full title entry. All these services are limited to US for the time being but Google has indicated the expansion of these services to other regions sooner. This new venture from Google could pose as a serious threat to established sat nav manufacturers like Garmin and TomTom.
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