Will Your Next GPS Have Wifi?
17 years
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I have been using my Garminfone for about a month now. This is actually my third GPS phone. The first two were a Pharos GPS Phone 600 with Garmin Mobile XT and more recently the Garmin Nuvifone G60. I must say that I really like this device. I have my T-Mobile SIM card in it, but I stopped using the data plan on it a few days ago. I have been just using wifi and I find it to be quite useful for the Google Local Search, White Pages, Movie Times, etc. That got me to thinking that Garmin (and other GPS manufacturers) really ought to consider adding the ability to use Garmin nüLink!™ services via wifi. Granted, to many people another $5 per month is no big deal, but for others it is just one more recurring expense. I know for me I will often times do some trip planning before I even leave home. So, a wifi equipped Nuvi 1695 would allow me to connect via wifi, get the local fuel prices, check for traffic, and away I go. Granted, this would not be for everybody. Traffic can change quickly, etc., but I think it would still be a good idea to include it. If nothing else, even as a backup to those that do have the monthly subscription.
One other concept that I like from Motorola GPS ties these features into your nearby cell phone via bluetooth and does not require a separate data plan. I do think it would be a good idea for Garmin to look into this concept.
If it can make a $$
If somebody out there thinks WIFI on a GPS will be profitible, it will happen...
I have seen the future and it is now!
I have the new Garmin 295W with wi-fi
I have the new Garmin 295W with wi-fi and it works great and has been very handy for quick emails, checking a website, weather, google search, etc.
That was the main reason I bought this new model and with them selling in the $120-150 range they are very affordable considering all the features plus was very easy to set up the email and wi-fi.
Garmin Drive Smart 55 - Samsung Note 10 Smartphone with Google Maps & HERE Apps
Nuvi 295W
there is a garmin nuvi 295W, it the same as the garmin phone but no phone,
List for $225, seen for under $150
295
Just have to wonder if they will build on the 295.I like the features but it would be nice to have the traffic and Bluetooth added.
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.
Jim - does your Garminfone
Jim - does your Garminfone use Android? I've never seen one in person and am wondering how nice the phone works as an Android phone.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work
T-Mobile Garminfone
Yes, the T-Mobile Garminfone, also known as Garmin Nuvifone A50, uses the Android Operating System. The older AT&T Garmin Nuvifone G60 was not Android, however. I point that out because the names are similar enough that there could be confusion. I have both of them and like both of them, but clearly the newer Garminfone is more flexible because of the Android Operating System.
295W
What perfect timing! I just got my 295W 2 days ago and have been playing with it for 2 days straight (the GPSr people, the GPSr!)
I love it. I'm way old school and agree that I'd rather not be continuously connected (for cost as well as no real need), so when I saw this at Buy.com for $118 and free shipping I jumped on it. It's currently $121 w/free shipping, btw. http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=216379921&i=0
Although it doesn't have the ability to add 'apps' like the phones do, I'm way happy I got it. May have to go on a trip just to web surf & get/send emails from somebody's parking lot . I too wish it at least had lane assist (and maybe traffic), but otherwise it's going to strap on my scooter instead of my 765T, I think.
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.
Most likley...
By the time I replace my 1490T, WiFi will probably be built in by default.... I'm not planning to replace it for a few years (VERY happy with it). WiFi chips are now tiny & dirt cheap, so it's a natural to include it in more devices.
The word is that within five years, WiFi will be an entirely different animal...The WiFi signal will be directly from satellites (like XM Radio)...there will no longer be "Hot Spots".
There are even a few towns that are already doing this now (in the Silicon Valley & Kissimmee Florida for example). You can walk down the street surfing the Web anywhere in town.
Only a matter of time.....
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks" ~ Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love"
Nice thought..Maybe?
..
The word is that within five years, WiFi will be an entirely different animal...The WiFi signal will be directly from satellites (like XM Radio)...there will no longer be "Hot Spots".
There are even a few towns that are already doing this now (in the Silicon Valley & Kissimmee Florida for example). You can walk down the street surfing the Web anywhere in town.
Only a matter of time.....
One part of me says that's (sat wi-fi) logical, smart, & a great thing.
The other part of me smells big corporations mucking it up and somehow over-cashing in on it.
It's tough being basically for free enterprise but seeing the historical tendency of business to 'overlook' having a real heart for individuals.
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.
WiFi Support
The issue for WiFi support will be what will it connect to in the car? The emerging MiFi market is interesting. I have an iPod Touch 3G that is dependent on WiFi for communication so its limitations in a vehicle are the same as what a WiFi enabled GPS would have. I can envision the day when mobile WiFi (MiFi) is a reality where a cellular 3G or 4G link will be either be built into the vehicle or be a little device you place and the dashboard and all WiFi enabled devices in the car will be able to join the cars' WiFi network.
I support the right to keep and arm bears.
Cars are networked already
Since cars utilize an on-board network now just to even function, that's got to be already on the drawing board I'd guess. Just need a 'gateway' device to jump on it and do it's thing with other netwok devices..add-on or already there.
Far cry from my start working on 50's era vehicles!
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.
Our local cell service
is expected to get 3G in about 20 years. So I prefer to get the built in features
Not Turning Mine Off
[quote=ddmauThe word is that within five years, WiFi will be an entirely different animal...The WiFi signal will be directly from satellites (like XM Radio)...there will no longer be "Hot Spots".
I for one am not turning off MY hot spot just so I can turn around and pay for what I can now do as part of my ISP fees. There may be a service available similar to the satellite internet service available now but it would use different frequencies. I don't see 802.11g or 802.11n going away anytime soon.
I support the right to keep and arm bears.
Wi-Fi gps now
Jim1348, et all,
I use an Acer Netbook with a DeLorme dongle, so I guess that you could say that I have wi-fi / gps now.
This spring, I did get an unexpected wi-fi signal for many miles (probably from a nearby 18 wheeler) about 9 clicks south of the rural Bufu ghost town of Diablo, AZ. I was traveling on I-40.
Regards, Cactusmitch
"If you find a fork in the road, pick it up." Y. Bera.
Full Time RV'r
Jim1348, et all,
I use an Acer Netbook with a DeLorme dongle, so I guess that you could say that I have wi-fi / gps now.
This spring, I did get an unexpected wi-fi signal for many miles (probably from a nearby 18 wheeler) about 9 clicks south of the rural Bufu ghost town of Diablo, AZ. I was traveling on I-40.
Regards, Cactusmitch
Like you, I have a Dell notebook with Verizon wi-fi. We use it while we are driving and use our GPS as a GPS.
Larry - Nuvi 680, Nuvi 1690, Nuvi 2797LMT
this sent using my 295W with wifi
I connected to wifi network and sent this response with my Garmin 295W just to show that it can be done without using a computer.
Garmin Drive Smart 55 - Samsung Note 10 Smartphone with Google Maps & HERE Apps
hey!
It IS a computer!
(Me too! .. sent with my nuvi ).
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.
Borg
It IS a computer!
(Me too! .. sent with my nuvi ).
These days, everything is a computer!
yep
why not? sounds like the thing to do>
John_nuvi_
which way will it go?
Which way -- will your Wi-Fi have GPS, or will your GPS have Wi-Fi?
I expect to see the two integrated even more than they are now (e.g. smartphones and tablets). Better integration and implementations will continue to reduce the power requirements for GPS, which is more of an issue than the physical space required.
Location awareness is creeping into wireless more all the time -- as an example, the FCC's recent whitespace proposals require position location of certain classes of wireless whitespace devices to within 50 meters, which is most easily met using GPS.
Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows
Wifi or Whitespace
I think soon wifi will find strong competition from "white space" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spaces_%28radio%29) that the FCC just freed up. Since white space is considererd "WiFi on steriods", I believe most mobile devices (that can roam out of a WiFi range) will transform into a "whitespace device". Or there might be "white space" parent devices like a car that will create its own WiFi cell to grandfather legacy devices.
Nice
Wi-Fi would be nice but not a high priority.
WiFi built-in for every gadget
Wifi bulit-in is a trend for new gadgets:
gps, cellphone, tivi, bluray player, digital photo frame, camera, amplifier, microwave, refrigrator.....
futurists think
Wifi bulit-in is a trend for new gadgets:
gps, cellphone, tivi, bluray player, digital photo frame, camera, amplifier, microwave, refrigrator.....
Futurists think you are right about this. The Internet is undergoing a major paradigm shift. It's changing from a medium to share information between humans to a medium to share information between machines that may let humans access it.
Illiterate? Write for free help.
same?
.. The Internet is undergoing a major paradigm shift. It's changing from a medium to share information between humans to a medium to share information between machines that may let humans access it.
Assuming you equate "access" with "use" .. same thing, different POV.
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.
too many problems ...
If somebody out there thinks WIFI on a GPS will be profitible, it will happen...
Unfortunately Garmin goes the other way. There are too many software related problems with all new nuvis. Garmin is taking away features instead of adding the new ones into new models...
vk
Ditto
If somebody out there thinks WIFI on a GPS will be profitible, it will happen...
Unfortunately Garmin goes the other way. There are too many software related problems with all new nuvis. Garmin is taking away features instead of adding the new ones into new models...
This is also my worry. If my Garmin has wifi, it will probably either be like the (useless) FM transmitter on 765T, or just another point of crash.
Speak to your audience----
Some folks want a box with oodles of features (most of which they'll never use, me thinks); others want a few things done well.
I like my swiss army knife -- I've "saved the day" with the corkscrew a few times. But if it's just something that needs a good blade, the Spyderco is my choice.
Same with GPS. Some want oodles of features. I like the balance in the Nuvis, and don't use a lot of those features. And the GPS I rely on, every day is a Trimble Thunderbolt, that doesn't even have a display (it's used for frequency and time reference in a lab).
Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows
I hope so
If the 295 had a bigger screen, at least 4.3" or better still 5", I'd buy it now. However, I doubt Garmin will expand its wi-fi offerings because open, free wi-fi access to data/info interferes with Garmin's ability to monetize/profit from its closed data delivery systems.
I'm hoping someone will make an Android-based competitor to the I-Touch that will include GPS functionality. Of course, a Garmin Android app would be a nice addition.
.
http://www.slate.com/id/2269268
Hopefully, this proposal will go through, and the (now) unused analog TV frequencies will be opened up. This will allow better signals for WiFi, which would mean longer distances and more reliability (a wall or two won't hinder the signal anymore then it did for regular TV, like it does now for WiFi frequencies).
Something like this could mean whole block, neighborhood, town, city, etc coverage with WiFi, and not just your front porch. I can see the telecoms fighting this tooth and nail or trying to get it restricted as much as possible so they continue to be the sole providers of voice and internet.
So its the waiting game yet again to see what happens in the future.
Seeing that Garmin removed
Seeing that Garmin removed some towns from their database already..... I would think that WiFi might fill the hole that Garmin created when they removed some towns from their database..... in the first place... "If you can't find the town in the database, then check the WiFi database...."
Personally, I'd rather Garmin remove some voices and make room for a more complete--More Accurate list of towns..... but that's me talking, and I'm always for a more accurate product......
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!
About the 295W
If the 295 had a bigger screen, at least 4.3" or better still 5", I'd buy it now. ...
I'm happy with the screen size on my 295W so far. It's only slightly smaller (height when horizontal) than my 765T and works just as well in the car.. EXCEPT .. it seems to be clearly designed primarily for pedestrian mode.
-The speaker is too anemic for use in the car, unless you hook it in to the car speakers.
-The touch screen response is HORRIBLE while you are driving. So much so that it can be hazardous. As soon as you slow down though, it goes into pedestrian mode & response is MUCH better. Don't know if that's a designed-in thing, a flaw, or a too weak processor.?
But I LOVE the W-Fi! For $118 at Buy.com, I'm very happy with it.
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.
Multi-task
Like you, I have a Dell notebook with Verizon wi-fi. We use it while we are driving and use our GPS as a GPS.
You use the computer while you are driving? Now that's multi-tasking! lol
Nuvi 2597 / Nuvi 2595 / Nuvi 680 / Nuvi 650 "Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment."
GPS and WiFi
I suppose WiFi will come to GPS devices just because they can and it can be used for slick marketing for those that want to feel on the cutting edge of technology. Whether or not it would be useful for a standalone GPS remains to be seen. I only use my standalone GPS on the road for navigation.
Maybe as an easy way to upgrade maps and POI's while away from home could be useful.
MiFi is here
... I can envision the day when mobile WiFi (MiFi) is a reality where a cellular 3G or 4G link will be either be built into the vehicle or be a little device you place and the dashboard and all WiFi enabled devices in the car will be able to join the cars' WiFi network.
Yah, that's exactly what MiFi is. The MiFi gadgets are small, and everyone in your car with a WiFi device can share the single cellular data connection. Pretty cool, actually.
That is the way it should be! Instead of every gadget manufacturer building in their own 3G/4G data access and it's accompanying monthly charges, you only have one that's shared. Ford's Sync product is already allowing you to plug in your own aircard and provide WiFi to your passengers. I like the separate MiFi device concept ever better - you can carry it with you and have WiFi everywhere, not just in the car.
Cool but ...
http://www.slate.com/id/2269268
Hopefully, this proposal will go through, and the (now) unused analog TV frequencies will be opened up. This will allow better signals for WiFi, which would mean longer distances and more reliability (a wall or two won't hinder the signal anymore then it did for regular TV, like it does now for WiFi frequencies).
Something like this could mean whole block, neighborhood, town, city, etc coverage with WiFi, and not just your front porch. I can see the telecoms fighting this tooth and nail or trying to get it restricted as much as possible so they continue to be the sole providers of voice and internet.
So its the waiting game yet again to see what happens in the future.
This sounds cool but if the signal is strong enough to go for 10 blocks it probably also means that you can get inference from someone's wireless network 10 blocks away.
GPS + wifi
Wifi has it benefits and most have been covered. On the flip side many smart phone are using these features to gain traction in their sales. Also FREE wifi is becoming the norm a many more locations across the country and units containing wifi can only benefit the user.
GARMIN
I HAVE 2 AND LIKE MY 660 BEST
Lonely Driving when everyone else is surfing
Yah, that's exactly what MiFi is. The MiFi gadgets are small, and everyone in your car with a WiFi device can share the single cellular data connection. Pretty cool, actually.
I use a Virgin Mobile 3G USB dongle on a CradlePoint WiFi router in the car. On one long trip my spouse and kids were all surfing while I was driving. It can be quite lonely for the driver ...
By the way, with the pre-paid 3G plans from Virgin Mobile (uses the Sprint network) you can pay only for the months you use, and unlimited data (no cap) is $40 for one month. I used to use the $20 rate which had a 300MB cap. Never did manage to exceed that cap.
Everytime i buy the latest
Everytime i buy the latest gps. BAM they come out with a better one.
Thats my problem.Think you
Thats my problem.Think you have the latest device and bingo here comes something else.
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.
Rule of Electronics
Thats my problem.Think you have the latest device and bingo here comes something else.
The rule of electronics is, "If it's on the shelf at the store, it's already obsolete."
nuvi 1690
I have the Nuvi 1690 which has Google using the 3G network - WIFI does make sense but you need access unless it will be satellite based.
We just ordered another 295W from Amazon yesterday!
We just ordered another 295W from Amazon yesterday for Under $110 shipped to replace the old streetpilot c550 that Sally uses all the time.
She decided that the wifi features that I had on mine was something she no longer wanted to be without and would be handy when she is traveling. Plus it is more compact and easier to keep in her purse.
Garmin Drive Smart 55 - Samsung Note 10 Smartphone with Google Maps & HERE Apps
wifi on the road
Aardvark,
Last summer I was shot-gunning my grand son from AZ to Illinois. I rode many miles with a strong wifi signal coming from the Semi truck within 1/4 mile of us for a couple of hours. I suspect the driver had a cell\data like with wifi.
This is an interesting option that may reduce the need for towers every where. Radio wave proliferation might contribute to global warming...
CM
"If you find a fork in the road, pick it up." Y. Bera.
Wifi
That would be a nice option.
Closed system
I have the Nuvi 1690 which has Google using the 3G network - WIFI does make sense but you need access unless it will be satellite based.
Garmin wants closed 3G access so they can capture subscription revenue from customer's desire to use Google and other data/info sources. Open access wi-fi cripples that business model, which is why I think they will resist expanding wi-fi to all nuvi lines for as long as possible.
Just seen this on the web
Just seen this on the web http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/06/5242076-veri...
Today at the CTIA Enterprise & Applications show in San Francisco, Verizon's president and CEO said that the company's 4G LTE network will launch in 38 major metropolitan areas, covering more than 110 million Americans, by the end of the year.
Verizon's new wireless broadband network claims to offer higher data speeds (initially for laptop users). CEO Lowell McAdam added that in January, the wireless operator will unveil six devices, such as smart phones and tablets, that will work on the network as soon as the first half of 2011.
"Bottom line: this is a significant shift for the industry, something we've talked about for 20 years," McAdam said.
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.
Wouldn't want to pay for it.
Wouldn't want to pay for it.
Me Either
Wouldn't want to pay for it.
I have a dedicated GPS, and a smartphone that gets 'b/ g/ n' wifi. It has a GPS program, Google maps and all the other accoutrements I could want.
These guys are trying to double and triple dip the market on hype. La, whatever!
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK