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Today in an unexpected announcement Garmin makers of all types of GPS devices through their hat into the cell phone market ring with the Garmin nuvifone. The nuvifone`s cornerstone is still as a GPS device but it is also a full-on GSM HDSPA smartphone with a large 3.5-inch touchscreen and modes for calling searching and [...]

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GPS maker Garmin jumped into the cell phone game on Thursday when the company announced its nuvifone mobile phone. The nuvifone sports an iPhone-esque touch screen interface and body shape 3.5G wireless data networking and includes a built-in GPS.

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Garmin just presented the Nuvifone a cellphone that is also a GPS. Here is how Nuvi describes it: “is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for — a single device that does it all ” (Cliff Pemble Garmin CEO) It is an interesting effort and we will reserve our judgment until we can test it in the field but this confirms something that we have been thinking for a while: GPS devices are commodities and it’s going to be really hard for a GPS maker to survive in the coming years. Chip are getting small enough that soon every phone will have a GPS – just like they (almost) all have Bluetooth. But jumping on the cellphone bandwagon won’t be enough to guarantee their survival. Just look at how Motorola is struggling. There are ways to delay the point where phones will take over: larger displays better design faster computing. But in the end GPS makers will be squeeze from two sides: GPS car integration and GPS phone integration. | | |

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Garmin maker of GPS products announced a brand new product called the nuvifone. The nuvifone is a cell phone that resembles the iPhone and is loaded with applications and services from Google. It has HSDPA for 3G connectivity and ... (follow link to read)

Source : Garmin fort de sa r??putation dans le domaine des syst??mes GPS autonomes annonce son premier appareil dot?? de fonctions de t??l??phonie. L'appareil est dot?? d'un ??cran tactile 3 5" supporte la 3G+ (HSDPA) et a bien entendu des fonctions GPS avanc??es. Il sera dot?? par d??faut des cartes des Etats Unis et de toute l'Europe. Il aura ??galement des fonctions de mail de surf sur internet de lecture audio et vid??o... En r??sum?? cet appareil se positionne sur le segment de l'iPhone la prononciation de son nom Nuvifone ne laissant subsister aucune ambigu??t??. Il sera disponible au troisi??me trimestre ?? un tarif non encore d??voil??.

GPS gadget company Garmin enters the mobile phone business with the nuvifone. The Garmin nuvifone is an all-in-one sleek and slim touchscreen smartphone that combines a premium phone mobile web-browser and GPS personal navigator. ...

Today in a surprise announcement in New York City Garmin whipped out the nuvifone a full-fledged GSM HSDPA smartphone built on its own operating system with GPS navigation at its core—but e-mail and web browsing close to its heart and a camera built in too. No pricing or carrier announcement has been made yet though its likeliest compatible network is AT&T given the technology. (When T-Mobile launches HSDPA it too will be suitable and possibly more attractive than AT&T.) Features include: • Google local search • Garmin Online services - traffic weather fuel prices hotel discounts etc. • nuvi-like navigation on the road or in pedestrian mode • Email text IM functions • Camera video camera MP3 and MPEG4/AAC Garmin is promising to deliver it in the 3rd quarter and says that while the PND market isn't dying the cellphone is clearly a ripe opportunity. Only one problem as quipster and NPD analyst Ross Rubin pointed out: "Hello and Welcome to nuvifone!" Damn now I'll never get that voice out of my head. Have a look at all those pictures and the official press release below. Garmin n vifone Takes Personal Navigation and Communication to the Next Level New York/January 30 2008/PR Newswire Garmin International Inc. a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) and the world's leading GPS manufacturer today announced its entrance into the mobile phone market with the n vifone an all-in-one sleek and slim touchscreen device that combines a premium phone mobile web-browser and cutting-edge personal navigator. The n vifone is a work of art in features design and functionality and is destined to transform how individuals connect communicate and navigate their life. "The n vifone is an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device " said Cliff Pemble Garmin's president and COO. "This is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for a single device that does it all." The n vifone is an innovative mobile phone that has a wide range of advanced yet easy-to-use features. The all touchscreen device is the first of its kind to integrate premium 3.5G mobile phone capability with an internet browser data connectivity personal messaging and personal navigation functions in one device. When powered on the 3.5-inch touchscreen display reveals three primary icons "Call " "Search " and "View Map" which allow the user to effortlessly master the n vifone's functions. The n vifone is the ultimate multi-tasker. Calls are easily initiated by tapping the "Call" button and selecting a name from the contact list or by using the on-screen keypad. When the user is trying to juggle talking on their phone while entering their vehicle to start a trip the n vifone makes the transition simple. When the n vifone is docked onto the vehicle mount it automatically turns on the GPS activates the navigation menu and enables hands-free calling so that the user never misses a beat in the conversation and is able to begin routing to their destination with ease. Customers familiar with Garmin's industry leading n vi product line will feel right at home using the n vifone's personal navigation features. It includes preloaded maps of North America Eastern and Western Europe or both and allows drivers to quickly find a specific street address establishment's name or search for a destination by category using the n vifone's built-in database with millions of points of interest. Turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions guide the user to their destination. If they miss a turn along the route n vifone automatically recalculates a route and gets them back on track speaking the names of the streets along the way. The n vifone is Garmin's first device to include Google local search capability which harnesses the vast point of interest information available from the world wide web. N vifone users can search for locations like "coffee shops" and Google will sort the results based on the user's current location and relevance. Information provided by Google includes a web-based rating so that users can select the most appropriate destination and route directly to it. In addition the n vifone includes a web browser incorporating premium features and touchscreen operation for an optimum mobile browsing experience. The n vifone also includes personal messaging functions including email text and instant messaging. For the ultimate in safety the "Where am I?" feature lets users touch the screen at any time to display the exact latitude and longitude coordinates the nearest address and intersection and the closest hospitals police stations and gas stations. The n vifone also helps drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot by automatically marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount. In addition to navigation the n vifone includes access to Garmin Online an online service offering constantly-updating information such as real-time traffic fuel prices stock prices sport scores news reports local events and weather forecasts. The n vifone also includes numerous mobile entertainment applications. The built-in camera allows individuals to take a picture that will automatically be tagged with the exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location or email the image to a recipient who can navigate directly to the location. The n vifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google's Panoramio picture sharing site. The Panoramio photo search feature enhances the enjoyment and adventure of sightseeing in an otherwise unfamiliar location. Other multimedia functions of the n vifone include a built-in video camera MP3 and MPEG4/AAC. Garmin anticipates that the n vifone will be available in the third quarter of 2008. Specific details about pricing and sales partners will be announced in the future. Additional information about n vifone is available at www.garmin.com/nuvifone. [ ]

Filed under: Well ask and ye shall receive. We wrangled some of the Garmin folks to get a better view of the nuvifone and wouldn't you know it... we did! Check the gallery below for some close-up action with a non-working model and comparison shots of the device with the iPhone. The phone feels light and lean in your hands we should note and we're told that the model we were handling was close to what the final weight will be it's a pretty impressive and clean design once you see it up close. Enjoy some pictures you can actually see. Gallery: | |

Filed under: That's right folks Garmin has just announced its new iPhone-like smartphone the nüvifone. The device features full browsing PIM phone and of course GPS functions. It's an HSDPA quad-band phone also equipped with WiFi Bluetooth and a somewhat familiar ultrathin design with full touchscreen support. The unit will use Garmin's proprietary OS which is based on the UI its GPS units utilize and sports a 3.5-inch LCD display... not unlike certain PNDs you know and love. There's no word on price or release date though the company swears we're going to be hearing about it soon. | |

Filed under: We're not sure it was a real great idea on Garmin's part to put its new smartphone / GPS / iPhone wannabe in a darkly lit room on a bright pole with a shiny globe around it... but hey it's not our company. Needless to say it was pretty difficult to get a shot of this thing and impossible to get it in our hands. Imagine if the Samsung Blackjack was all screen and you can pretty much get an idea of what this little guy is like in person. Check the gallery below for our attempt at photos. Gallery: | |