Two years ago, the prospect of Garmin launching their own phone was rather awesome. After repeated delays, interest wavered amongst the tech-loving public and last month, the Garmin Nuvifone launched to limited excitement. Sure… commercials for the phone running on AT&T’s service are everywhere, but… does anyone care?Garmin missed their window of opportunity. And [...]
Garmin's market is a lot bigger than the hand held GPS market that Android phones can supplant. In dash car systems can offer much bigger screens. Marine and air systems are a whole different animal (and can also have much bigger screens). Sports systems like their bike computers can interface with ANT+ Sport devices like wheel, cadence, HRM and power sensors that are unlikely to be supported by phones. I don't think Garmin's in all that much trouble. Yes, they will lose some of their hand held market, but I don't think that they depend on that as much as a lot of the other stuff they do, where they have less competition.
Their phone however, does seem like a non-starter. They're pretty far behind and their GPS business model in part depends upon selling their map data -- repeatedly, and it's not cheap. I don't think I'll be too interested in their phone, unless it can run the Google Maps app and it also supports ANT+ Sport and has a nice bicycle handlebar mount available and it is water proof on said bicycle mount. That might get me but that's also a bit of a niche market that I doubt will be addressed.
Eh? I don't really care but I'm sure others do. Just be happy that yet another company has released its first android device. WELCOME TO ANDROID, GARMIN!
[...] I don't think I'll be too interested in their phone, unless it can run the Google Maps app and it also supports ANT+ Sport [...]
Judging from the following statement This is ANT, the Wireless Sensor Network Solution , your dream of ANT+ capable smartphones should come true no latter than coming fall 2010. The chip from TI is called the WiLink.
I am also looking forward this day to jump on the bandwagon and get myself an android phone that I could use as a GPS enabled sport computer recording HR and cadence for my bicycles.
Garmin gets their maps from NAVTECH, Nokia owns Navtech, its not going to get any easier for Garmin, and no I do not care, I have a Garmin GPS use it more then the cell, I like my GPS separate from the cell for driving.
Device(s): Droid X, Samsung Vibrant, Samsung Galaxy S 4G
Thanks: 105
Thanked 261 Times in 161 Posts
Is Garmin planning on making a version that will work on non-Garmin android devices or is there plan to only make that available on Garmin devices in the hopes to sell lots of those?
Garmin Android In 2010, Do You Care?
