WTF? The return of VZ Navigator?

[Chugworth]

Today I happened to look through Verizon's Android market list, and I saw a new app: "VZ Navigator for DroidX." And of course it has a subscription price of $9.99/month.

Now pardon my ignorance, but could someone explain to me what advantage VZ Navigator has over the free Google Navigator which makes it worth $9.99/month?

Or is Verizon just shamelessly leeching dollars again?

 

[IOWA]

Today I happened to look through Verizon's Android market list, and I saw a new app: "VZ Navigator for DroidX." And of course it has a subscription price of $9.99/month.

Now pardon my ignorance, but could someone explain to me what advantage VZ Navigator has over the free Google Navigator which makes it worth $9.99/month?

Or is Verizon just shamelessly leeching dollars again?

It's just VZW trying to make money.

 

[ggp]

Strategy is that it is "familiar" to VZW custies who used it before, and would be willing to spend the money to avoid having to become familiar with a new app. It's an option, not anything you're being forced in to, so chill. And VZW is a FOR PROFIT company, so if an opportunity exists to earn money, as well they should go for it!

 

[Chugworth]

Strategy is that it is "familiar" to VZW custies who used it before, and would be willing to spend the money to avoid having to become familiar with a new app. It's an option, not anything you're being forced in to, so chill. And VZW is a FOR PROFIT company, so if an opportunity exists to earn money, as well they should go for it!

I'm just making the point here that VZ Navigator is a total waste of money. I don't really like to see the uninformed getting screwed.

Luckily Verizon has learned from past user backlash and no longer locks the phone's GPS to only work with VZ Navigator.

 

[GotNav]

you can trust VZ Navigator most..it has access to Verizon's A-GPS (assisted GPS) location technology so it works from your garage ..manhattan's urban canyons, etc. It gives you more convenient routes based on the best, i.e. fastest, directions (as opposed to shortest, a simple mathematical algo that would place you on random roads.) It gives you cheapest gas around you, and events like movies and concerts, etc.

Bottom line, it's very reliable.

I'll be curious to see how other Navigation apps' accuracy holds against VZ Navigator!

 

[UncleMike]

you can trust VZ Navigator most..it has access to Verizon's A-GPS (assisted GPS) location technology so it works from your garage ..manhattan's urban canyons, etc. It gives you more convenient routes based on the best, i.e. fastest, directions (as opposed to shortest, a simple mathematical algo that would place you on random roads.) It gives you cheapest gas around you, and events like movies and concerts, etc.

Bottom line, it's very reliable.

I'll be curious to see how other Navigation apps' accuracy holds against VZ Navigator!

I guess there will be someone buying it after all!

 

[ckeegan]

you can trust VZ Navigator most..it has access to Verizon's A-GPS (assisted GPS) location technology so it works from your garage ..manhattan's urban canyons, etc.

Unless I'm mistaken, any location based program (google maps, bing, GPS Weather Radar, CoPilot Live, etc) uses aGPS on a smartphone. Hence me being able to get a lock on my location in the middle of my house, while not near a window, or better yet the room with the toilet and no windows.

 

[UncleMike]

Wow... this thing has over 10,000 downloads already. The funniest part is that in the comments, some user named "verizon" gave it ONE STAR!

 

[Demache]

Unless I'm mistaken, any location based program (google maps, bing, GPS Weather Radar, CoPilot Live, etc) uses aGPS on a smartphone. Hence me being able to get a lock on my location in the middle of my house, while not near a window, or better yet the room with the toilet and no windows.

Your right. VZW Navigator uses the exact same GPS data as any other app on the phone. aGPS is built-in to the phone itself and is not unique to VZ Navigator. The key difference is that on our phones, GPS is freely accessible, while on Verizon dumbphones, it is not. Stuff that takes place server side (ex. directions and such) is something that can be better or worse than Google Navigation.

I wouldn't necessarily call VZ Navigator a scam or a way for Verizon to shamelessly rip money off consumers (ok it sort of is). But they are actually catering toward a demand. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, some people have been requesting VZ Navigator for Android. They are only doing what is natural, by filling a request by their customers. They obviously wouldn't make the app if no one wanted it.

 

[mtpemberton]

Seriously... I work in IT and see this all too often.. Google did it so it must be awsome... unfortunatly that isn't always the case.. this is one of those cases.. if you only need basic turn by turn directions then Google maps is fine.. however if you want to get instant detours (a feature which has saved me on countless occasions), be able to save FAVORITE places and search locations (cheapest gas) along your route, then some customers may choose to pay for the VZ navigator...

 

[NilsE]

I used VZ Nav on a feature phone or two. Then used CoPilot live on a HP handheld then a WinMo phone and I believe "for the price" Google Navigation is much better than both of them.

If you look at it as a package, Maps for just looking up a location, Places to find gas and restaurants etc, and Navigation to get there then it is pretty comprehensive.

One thing I missed was saving favorites then I realized you could star items in maps and use them in Navigation so I am happy.

Verbal directions in Google is also better than the other two. I forget on VZ Nav but in CoPilot they did not give the name of the street or highway you were to turn on but Google does.

One thing I really like is street view popping up when you reach your destination.

I look forward to the next release of Google navigation..

Now, that is just my opinion and my experience

 

[buckguin]

Unless I'm mistaken, any location based program (google maps, bing, GPS Weather Radar, CoPilot Live, etc) uses aGPS on a smartphone. Hence me being able to get a lock on my location in the middle of my house, while not near a window, or better yet the room with the toilet and no windows.

Why do you need directions in the toilet room??..haha

 

[Penguissimo]

I guess there will be someone buying it after all!

Or trying to sell it

One post, registered the day of making that post, handle related to VZ Navigator...

I think we've found ourselves an astroturf account!

 

[actofgod]

VZ Navigator....app.disabled

f that