Garmin Nüvifone: A Traveler's Dream Come True

In the aftermath of CES came what I thought was a breakthrough product. I’m on the road 20 weeks a year and typically test drive more than 40 cars annually. I have tried to configure various mobile phone devices with an easy-to-use GPS package, but quite frankly, none have all the functionality of a standalone PND (portable navigation device). That is until now as Garmin has introduced the Nüvifone, which it claims is the first 3.5G smartphone to include full navigation, Internet browsing and messaging in an all-in-one format with a PDA-style form factor.

Unlike trying to run GPS software on your phone, this is much more like a PND with phone functionality. You put it in its dock and the GPS is activated. Through the navigational menu hands-free calling is enabled. It includes a Google local search functions so if you want to search for the nearest Starbucks, just search for “coffee shops” and it will provide a Web-based rating of local merchants and can navigate you there quickly. As I typically make four to six trips to Europe each year, I really appreciate the fact that the Nüvifone includes preloaded maps of North America and Europe and announces the street names for upcoming turns.

--Richard Truesdell
Editorial Director of Automotive Traveler, an online-only automotive travel lifestyle publication.

(Full gallery available after the jump)

in the forums!

Gallery
(Click the pics to enlarge)

Phone Shots

Browser Mode

Navigation Mode

Screen Shots

Camera

Email

Navigation

Geo-tagging

Google

Browser Screenshot

Menu Screenshot

Phone Call Screenshot

Google Results Screenshot

Calendar Screenshot

Source: Garmin

in the forums!