Garmin Plans to Launch Android Phone

Garmin (GRMN) is planning an Android-powered phone in 2010.

The company laid out the plans on a presentation that went with its third quarter earnings call. The find, noted by GSM Arena earlier this week, highlights that Garmin is serious about the Nuvifone, which has questionable prospects and decidedly mixed reviews. Neowin notes that the Nuvifone has Windows Mobile and Linux versions, but little traction thus far.

Reviews of the Garmin Nuvifone G60 (AT&T)

Here’s the slide regarding the Android plans:

There was little else mentioned about the Android plans on Garmin’s earnings conference call. The big question is whether Android will make much of a difference for Nuvifone’s adoption.

Comments

[Yagottabe K...:]

IOW - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Nov 11 03:52 PM

[sneaker1404:]

If it means a person can run Android apps on the Android Nuvi (which I assume it does) then doesn't it remove the "no apps" limitation that many are concerned about? Seems a good step forward.

Nov 11 04:20 PM

[oghowie:]

I guess this is why GRMN stock was up today?

Nov 11 07:40 PM

[dtrader:]

Android phone for Garmin? I don't get it. Isn't Garmin's claim to fame their proprietary GPS navigation system. Hasn't Google busted the GPS market by giving a great GPS system away for free with Android.

So Garmin's strategy is to put Android on their phone so customers won't need Garmin's premium GPS.

Hmm, first time I think I've seen a business helping the competition so unabashedly help to put nails in their own coffin.

Oh well, maybe they have some secret strategy? Maybe they're thinking of surprising Google with introducing a better search engine.

Nov 12 07:30 AM

[Fremont Rea...:]

Not sure how this will benefit them. But again how does google make money off it's navigation service. If they've found a way, maybe Garmin can do the same and offer a superior navigation service.

Nov 12 11:28 AM

[jack dee:]

Android, is providing a cheap fast way into the smart phone market, now anyone with hardware, can compete.


What does this mean? It means MSFT has to have an all out winner in win mobile 7 or it is out for this round, and maybe the next

It means Apple will cut prices and add features faster in attempt to slow margin loss.

It means google might be cheap, Android will bring smartphones to the middle market and even to the pay as you go crowd.
Already consumers have twigged you can sim a smart phone and use a low cost provider for a great wifi PDA with a built in Pay as you go phone.
Sure its not an iphone, but it is as cheap as an itouch and has a fully functioning phone...... whats not to like.


Garmin going the wrong way? I think not, people still want navs that stay docked in the car and work great. But they might like having the comfort of knowing maps and directions are up to date and working well.....

Nov 12 03:29 PM

[sports528:]

@dtrader - Just because Andriod can do GPS navigation, does not mean it is built in and all-inclusive, its just like an app on every other phone. Garmin would not replace its GPS for a sub-par navigation from Google, but rather replace it with their 'app'. What you mentioned made no sense. With GPS software, you need hardware (antenna, LNA, etc.). So instead of using Google's software and online maps, they use their own SW and stored maps along with their customized GPS hardware (since they built the phone).

Nov 12 03:57 PM

[dtrader:]

sports528...Garmin will keep its standalone GPS product with its software but according to the article above it plans to introduce a new phone that runs on Android. I have to assume it will be running Googles GPS navigation.

I disagree with your characterization of Googles navigation as sub-par. I have watched their video and everything about their navigation system looks superior not inferior to Garmin's, to me.

I disagree with your assertion with GPS software you necessarily need hardware (antenna, LNA, etc.) but agree that GPS reception on a cell phone might be a key issue. For me this might be Googles key issue with their GPS navigation but the jury's still out until we see how it performs in the market.


On Nov 12 03:57 PM sports528 wrote:

> @dtrader - Just because Andriod can do GPS navigation, does not mean
> it is built in and all-inclusive, its just like an app on every other
> phone. Garmin would not replace its GPS for a sub-par navigation
> from Google, but rather replace it with their 'app'. What you mentioned
> made no sense. With GPS software, you need hardware (antenna, LNA,
> etc.). So instead of using Google's software and online maps, they
> use their own SW and stored maps along with their customized GPS
> hardware (since they built the phone).

Nov 13 05:34 AM

[sports528:]

I guess we will wait and see. Since their software is built in on the other OS's (Windows Mobile and Linux), I would assume they would continue to use their GPS software on Android OS. If they would just join the market on the Android, the only difference between the two phones (Droid) then would be who can make it the hardware cheaper? So that was my initial belief that Garmin would supply their own GPS software to compete.

But who knows, maybe they will combine the two somehow to use Google's satellite views with their software. Now that would be cool. One thing I didn't like about Google's navigation (or at least in the video i saw) was that it was not a smooth transition from frame to frame when navigating. The vehicle icon kept jumping up and down as you drove.


On Nov 13 05:34 AM dtrader wrote:

> sports528...Garmin will keep its standalone GPS product with its
> software but according to the article above it plans to introduce
> a new phone that runs on Android. I have to assume it will be running
> Googles GPS navigation.
>
> I disagree with your characterization of Googles navigation as sub-par.
> I have watched their video and everything about their navigation
> system looks superior not inferior to Garmin's, to me.
>
> I disagree with your assertion with GPS software you necessarily
> need hardware (antenna, LNA, etc.) but agree that GPS reception on
> a cell phone might be a key issue. For me this might be Googles
> key issue with their GPS navigation but the jury's still out until
> we see how it performs in the market.

Nov 13 09:33 AM