Garmin/ AT&T Discontinue two way cellular NuLink service

Reminiscent of when the MSN traffic service was dropped a few years ago. It was out of Garmin's control, but still a slap in the face for Garmin's customers who subscribed and depended on it.

... because 2G is dying.

Reminds me of the MSN Direct service that was also discontinued after a few years. Like the MSN Direct service, seems Garmin is at least giving NuLink users ample warning and time.

[quolandb]Reminiscent of when the MSN traffic service was dropped a few years ago. It was out of Garmin's control, but still a slap in the face for Garmin's customers who subscribed and depended on it.[/quote]

I guess they paid a premium price for a traffic cable that isn't worth a damn as I did for MSN.

Honestly, I can't say I'm totally surprised by this. The traffic feature isn't really the big selling point for me... it's seems to be notoriously inaccurate or out of date. What I appreciated with the feature were the Google access features for finding destinations, and the gas prices features. This was prior to my having a smart phone. Since I have other options for those functions now, I can't say this is a devastating turn of events. Over the past few years, I feel I got my money's worth with this unit and the core features (GPS, routing, embedded POIs, etc) will continue to work. However, had I recently shelled out extra $$$ to get the "specialized" AT&T access feature (it's only available in a couple models as far as I know-- which don't even include free map updates), I would be a little more upset

I never considered getting this service as the RDS has been "good enough". My business partner has Nuvi 680 that came with MSN Direct. When that went dead I helped him get a GTM 20 so he could use RDS traffic with it. Frankly all these specialized services are just ripe for being shutdown. At least with external receivers, you can switch to a different device, assuming it is compatible, if your existing service shuts down. The MSN Direct and RDS cables were compatible. I was even able to plug the MSN Direct receiver into my Nuvi 765T and it worked with MSN Direct.

Well, first let me say, Garmin is indeed classy!
I just checked my garmin account, and my NuLink subscription is good until Jun 1, 2015. They extended it.

So they did leave it on. As a way to compensate. Nice of them!

I believe Garmin did the same (or similar) when the MSN Direct service ended (actually Microsoft discontinued it).

Classy. Classy on their part. I appreciate it given the unfortunate situation.

Thanks for the info. Oh well, they tried.

It sounds like a similar story when MSN service closed down.

Oddly.. I actually liked the MSN service.

I paid for it on 3 of my devices and then they closed up.

So many of these types of services are free on the Cell phone that they can't compete.

They obviously made a deal with a cellular carrier to provide the connection for the units, and that is what is not being renewed, their paying for it.

Course the old edge network is being shut down as well, at some time in the future unknown.

In any case, this didn't work very well. Not well at all.

One thing I noticed, the Google Local search on my Nu Link enabled unit is now no longer working. The traffic still works about as well as it ever did (not very well) but the search is marked "discontinued".

That's not very good.

I take it back, it's not classy.

The traffic still works through the Nu Link cellular radio, but without the Google local search.

Since the radio is still working Garmin must have decided to dump the Google connection. I take it back. The could have left it all on, and they should have.

Were you able to get the traffic receiver working on that unit?
It seem unlikely any traffic receiver plug would work instead of the cellular radio in my 1680, but it would be slick if it would.

Garmin could update the firmware for that unit to support it, but I doubt they would. It's just too old and the prices have come down so much, I'll either get another unit or just buy a mount for my smartphone. Probably the latter.

I really used the gas prices feature a lot, so I was hoping to find a unit that worked as well as the nuLink before Garmin took gas prices away. I guess that isn't going to happen, though.
http://pass4sure300-115-dumps.blogspot.com/
Also, I understand once AT&T stops 2g service in a year or so, the TomTom and Garmin units that use it will also cease to function.

What info was I supposed to find at this link?

The standalone GPS units are definitely losing a lot of their usefulness. I still use mine but the phone is so much easier to use.

I still think that it is a good idea to have maps loaded on your phone for the times that you lose signal. I am a Verizon subscriber. I have also had AT&T in the past. My family and I often seem to end up in places with no cellular reception. My like to snowmobile, ATV, canoe, kayak, etc., so we get to places that are off the beaten path.

There is something to be said for the simplicity of an automobile GPS. The other thing that I often tell people is that it doesn't have to be an "either/or" situation. By that, I encourage people to have BOTH traditional automobile GPS AND Google Maps, or whatever choice, on their cell phone.

On cross-country trips, we have noticed discrepancies in the past. We use that as an opportunity to compare and contrast how one navigated a route versus the other. And then we choose our route. I really think that navigation is something of an inexact science. Even if you could do lots of research determining the exact best route prior to beginning a trip, things can change while en route.

I will say that navigating has certainly improved over the past bunch of years that I have been using a GPS. I still remember borrowing a Garmin Street Pilot 2710 from my neighbor some years ago. I liked it right away and enjoyed using it. Things have improved quite a bit since I used the SP2710!

I find exactly the opposite, preferring my GPS over the phone. Screen is larger, easier to integrate with route planning software on my PC, more options etc etc. Phone is fine for a simple 'Go to' but otherwise my GPS wins hands down.

Do you use a mount for your phone?

I have a mount, a rubber thing that sticks on the dash. Clamps the phone on the sides. Not very convenient.

I'd like to find something better. But I don't know what that would be.

I have a mount, a rubber thing that sticks on the dash. Clamps the phone on the sides. Not very convenient.

I'd like to find something better. But I don't know what that would be.