November 17, 2010

Google Maps Navigation for Australia and New Zealand

Google's free navigation software is now available in Australia and New Zealand. "Google Maps Navigation is a feature of Google Maps for Mobile that provides voice-guided turn by turn directions in real time. That means that instead of printing out your directions in advance, or having your co-pilot read aloud from list of directions, you can use your Android smartphone to guide you there directly," explains Google. To use this feature you need a smartphone that runs Android 1.6 or a more recent version of Android.


At the moment, Google Maps Navigation is available in 17 countries, but this number will increase when Google starts to use its own mapping data in other countries. As Greg Sterling points out, "at some point during the course of the past couple of years, perhaps catalyzed by the shock of Nokia's roughly $8 billion acquisition of Navteq, Google decided it needed to 'own' maps top to bottom. Since that time the company has been making a systematic effort to collect and improve the base data for this highly strategic product. That's partly what Street View driving is about: getting roads and other data for Maps (and now Navigation) in addition to imagery and WiFi hotspot locations."
at

10 comments:

  1. UnknownNovember 17, 2010 at 5:57 AM

    Those symbols in the status-bar aren't from Android 2.2.
    So that's how 2.3 will look?

    Come on, guys. When are you going to release the really awesome news of the next release?

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownNovember 17, 2010 at 6:00 AM

    Damn. I always mistake you guys for the real thing... *sigh* (still can't wait for the release of 2.3 ...)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Accessories WholesaleNovember 17, 2010 at 5:02 PM

    Now, it is easier to navigate the streets of Australia and New Zealand.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A AnonymousNovember 17, 2010 at 5:35 PM

    The navigation system is essential to people who are new to the country. They will have an easier time to locate the places they need to find.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Belize LiveaboardNovember 17, 2010 at 5:54 PM

    New drivers in Australia and New Zealand would find it difficult if they don't have navigation system with them because they are not yet familiar with the streets.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cholita BonitaNovember 17, 2010 at 6:40 PM

    Hope more people will use this kind of system to help them in their everyday lives.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jack FisherNovember 22, 2010 at 9:58 AM

    waiting for the next release. something for taxi drivers

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownNovember 24, 2010 at 9:24 PM

    has anybody thought about the fact that you have to have internet connection at all times to use the service? Australia beautiful country that it is, does not provide 3G access everywhere...
    Any plans to facilitate the downloading of the actual map to the handset?

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 3, 2010 at 9:53 PM

    excerpt form my complaint to a certain telco

    I have spoken to shop assistants , phone support etc until I am blue in the face.

    Still I have NO answer to my Question.

    The Question is How much of my 2GB data plan will be used IN TOTAL for a trip from Brisbane to Sydney using Google Maps on the HTC DESIRE HD on a $59 2GB plan

    AS THESE MAPS ARE BASICALLY DOWNLOADED ON THE RUN, HOW IS ONE SUPPOSED TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR DATA USED ( AS EXPLAINED BY PH SUPPORT) ON A 900+ KLM JOURNEY.

    RIDICULOUS

    I would appreciate a simple, concise and satisfactory explanation as to the total costs incurred by using the Google maps application.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    To the people worried about using this in regards to using data. Im pretty sure it runs as a standard GPS system off sat's so your not actually using your data. You dont need an internet connection at all times.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.