Garmin SmartPhone Link for iOS Available

I have it on Android and it work with Nuvi 3490. Nothing special about it, Garmin use it to sell traffic and redlight camera update.

I have it on Android and it work with Nuvi 3490. Nothing special about it, Garmin use it to sell traffic and redlight camera update.

Same here: I had it on Android and later uninstalled because Garmin wants money for the features that I already have for free between my smartphone and this website.

iTunes documentation change. Now says:
"The compatible models are the 2497, 2597, 2797, and 3597."

Rich Owings just posted an article at gpstracklog:

Garmin Smartphone Link comes to iOS for 2013 Bluetooth nuvis

I have an IPHONE 5 and a 2012 3590 Nuvi. Garmin's Smartphone Link for IOS APP only supports their 2013 Nuvi line.

I called Garmin to verify this. I was quite disappointed to find out that this is true.

They left all of us out in the Cold.

Shame on them.

No plans to make the app work on earlier 2012 Nuvi's.

Disappointing news, for sure.

...but not surprising to me. Just seems like a way to keep making money.

Sad part is, they probably would have gotten the extra money from me to have those other in-app add-ons if it would have been compatible with my 2595 that I just got late last year.

Now, they'll just have to wait for this unit to die before I spend more money with them.

I have the ecoroute HD always connected and is reliable with my 3597. With this, Bluetooth always connects to my iPhone 4 providing phone functions. However, smart link seldom connects and if it does it never updates. This app/feature is broken and Garmin needs to fix it. Especially sine they are charging additional fees for the services.

Can the Nuvi connect to multiple bluetooth devices at the same time?

And if you already have your phone bluetoothed to your vehicle for phone calls, will connecting it to the Nuvi disrupt that?

Anyone know?

The 3597 can connect to both your phone and the Ecoroute HD.

You can also connect the smartphone apps but turn off the voice phone link to the nüvi via the nüvi Bliuetooth settings panel.

Funny that the Android version of the app supports the older 2012 models but the iOS version does not. It shows that there is no technical reason that the older units can't be supported, Garmin is just favoring Android over iOS.

Perhaps Apple wants too big of a cut from the app? Coding problems? Who knows.

I would think multi-platform apps would not discriminate at all. It's more money for Garmin.

If Apple wanted too big of a cut then why would Garmin bother to offer the app for iOS at all? As for coding problems... perhaps, but if Gamin can make it work for the 2013 models then what has changed so radically that the previous years models are unable to be supported? I really only want to be able to send my GPS address info over bluetooth, is that so hard?

Like I've stated, I would think multi-platform apps would not discriminate at all. It's more money for Garmin.

Not sure why this has happened.

Downloaded smart link V1.5 link this week. I found my 3597 will sync to it when the car starts as long as the app is never closed on the phone. I'm going to use it this way for a while and hope it doesn't drain the battery while it runs in the background.
The weather feature is neat. While driving I received a severe thunderstorm warning in a red banner at the top of the screen. I then touched the weather icon and saw a red area on the map. I touched the red area and it displayed the complete text issued by the weather bureau.
Unfortunately it kept losing traffic so I think HD traffic from the cable may be better.

I remember reading a reply that someone got (in one of these Garmin forums) questioning why only the newest nuvis supported the iOS version of Smart Phone Link app. I believe Garmin replied that some aspect of the Bluetooth hardware in the older nuvi units was not compatible for some reason. Now exactly why the hardware was/is compatible with the Android phones and that version of the app and NOT with the iOS version is anyone's guess. I'm sure if questioned, Garmin would state that's it's "by design" and to buy a new nuvi model to be compatible.

Is Garmin using some non standard way to connect to the Nuvis? I thought bluetooth had standardized API's so any app that conforms can connect.

If the Garmin device's Bluetooth hardware & firmware are only capable of supporting audio protocols over Bluetooth, yeah, it's hard. Early versions of Garmin Bluetooth were only designed and built to only support audio. Newer versions can support more Bluetooth services and functions.

If it were a limitation of the Nuvi 2595 bluetooth hardware or firmware then the Android version wouldn't work with it either but it is listed as a supported device for Android.

Try telling that to Garmin!

I think Garmin will eventually update the ios app and will be compatible to the old models.

Hope they do make it compatible to older models soon.

It was fun using if for the first couple of days but like any other apps, I haven't touched since.