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iOS Gets Free iPhone Navigation App with Offline Maps

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The iPhone is now getting its own free third-party GPS turn-by-turn navigation app with locally stored map data that doesn’t require constant Internet access–unlike TeleNav (branded as AT&T Nav on the iPhone) or Google Maps with Navigation on the Android platform. The 1.6 GB worth of crowd-sourced map data is locally stored on your iPhone’s flash memory. The app, called NavFree USA, is now available in the App Store. Aside from the basic navigation feature, add-ons like traffic and speed camera information will cost extra as an in-app purchase.

Free mobile navigation has been one factor that mobile OS platforms are trying to differentiate themselves from competing platforms. Nokia’s free Ovi Maps features free downloadable maps that provide turn-by-turn GPS guidance for a number of countries across the world. Ovi Maps are stored locally on Nokia’s Symbian-based phones, and the latest beta of the mapping software allows users to also download maps as they go along, much like Google Maps with Navigation on Android. Google had also rolled out free navigation on its Android platform, but Navigation does require an active Internet connection to download maps and directions.

Apple, after having made acquisitions of a few mapping companies, is also rumored to be developing a native iPhone mapping client. Currently, the iPhone relies on Google Maps, which doesn’t provide turn-by-turn guidance on the iOS platform. A native solution from Apple would help the Cupertino, California company be less dependent on rival Google in the services space.

Apple’s iOS already has a number of paid third-party turn-by-turn GPS solutions. Navigon, CoPilot, Magellan, and TomTom are among the large names in the iOS GPS space.

Via: Engadget

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Danny_gme

    12/21/2010 at 3:37 pm

    The latest update to Google maps on android doesn’t require a constant internet on frequently traveled places.

  2. Guest

    12/21/2010 at 5:04 pm

    mapquest is turn by turn too.

  3. Guest

    12/21/2010 at 5:04 pm

    mapquest is turn by turn too.

  4. Guest

    12/21/2010 at 5:04 pm

    mapquest is turn by turn too.

  5. Guest

    12/21/2010 at 5:04 pm

    mapquest is turn by turn too.

  6. TechGeek

    12/22/2010 at 7:06 pm

    waste of almost 2GB of storage. User interface is very unfriendly. Type and address and hope it will find it. I sure won’t be relying on that crappy app to get me to my destination. So is it ok to give just any crappy product as long as it’s free? You be the judge of it.

  7. John_cataldo

    04/18/2011 at 11:31 am

    cheap app australian streets missing cant find
    street that are there.

  8. Safi

    11/26/2012 at 8:43 am

    Why Google MAP or most of the MAP app depend on online Internet always. If we are traveling through remote area where you may not find network, how these maps can work. By Caching the MAP and displaying it when the net is offline is not applicable solution. Cashed map will not last long and we do not know in which level the map is cashed and which area is covered.
    OVI map is best. Nokia provide it with no additional charge. Sony, IPhone , etc should consider to provide such similar application in the same way l as Nokia. People buy phone with GPS support to use its future not to look for software to buy form another source. Buying phone with GPS support means buying t the phone with GPS + its software too. How about if they shell phone without phone software and tell customer to install any available android o/s or any other. Will any ordinary people buy it? It is applicable to GPS also. If Phone has the GPS, the phone manufacture should provide proper application to use it.

  9. Jiten

    02/25/2014 at 8:46 pm

    Bang on. You totally rock.

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