A Guide to Google Maps Navigation for Androids

Google have turned the PND industry on its head with the release of the free Google Maps Navigation app for Android phones. What are the pros and cons of this GPS app?

Consumers who purchased a new Droid phone were given first run at the beta version of Google Maps Navigation. This mobile phone app offers a lot of the same benefits as an PND system bundled on to a cell phone.

With a release now available for any Android phone, customer take-up is expected to rise. How does this app work and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

What Can Google Maps Navigation do?

Part of the Google Maps for Mobile service, this system works very much like regular GPS/PND devices but is based on a download to an Android cell phone. The phone can be used as a GPS device to get turn-by-turn directions with, in some cases, voice activated navigation commands. Users can:

- Search for directions via voice command, route, address or by business name/type.

- Get up to date traffic views that show congestion problems.

- View routes and directions using Google's satellite capabilities to give 3D images.

- Use realistic street view images to make it easy to work out where they are and where they should go.

- Use some phones in "car mode" in their vehicles with car docks.

- Get search along services en route that may help find restaurants and gas stations, for example.

This may all look good in principle but what are the actual advantages and disadvantages of using Google Maps Navigation?

The Advantages of Google Maps Navigation Systems

For many this may well become an easier and more robust GPS solution than standard PND devices or other mobile technology apps. Some of the primary advantages include:

- Google Maps Navigation is free. Many other GPS mobile phone apps are cost-based, especially custom developed by software companies.

- The system can be updated immediately via mobile downloads unlike many PND devices which can only be updated periodically. This may give more accurate traffic congestion data and up-to-date street and road layouts.

- It has voice recognition facilities (on some phones).

- Searching for a location can be as simple as saying or keying in a place or business name.

- It offers a variety of useful views including 3D satellite and realistic street options.

- It can be used in a vehicle like a traditional PND device.

There may also be some disadvantages to Google Maps Navigation. What are they?

The Disadvantages of Google Maps Navigation

There are issues that consumers may want to consider before choosing Google Maps Navigation as their core GPS system. These include:

- The service may be free to download and to use from Google's side but it requires Internet connectivity so carrier charges may be an issue.

- The full functionality of the app is only currently available on phones with Android 2.0 (i.e. Droids). Users of phones based on version 1.6 and up can't use the voice recognition option at present.

- The service is only available as a beta test in the USA although it is expected to roll out to other countries over time.

- Losing a phone signal or going into a Internet black-spot can make this a less than smooth experience.

- The app can suck the life out of a phone battery.

Given the fact that Google Maps Navigation is free to download and the fact that Google's mapping and information technology is second to none, this may be worth looking at in any case. This may work out to be a good software solution for those times when a user needs quick directions; in others it may end up replacing their current PND device.