Gizmodo
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[Garmin nuvifone]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.
Comments
whaaaa holy shit?
wow... i cant wait to see how this goes. very very interesting.
Lets see: 3.5g, total dupe of iphone UI on certain screens, video recording, real gps, google local search. Bet it'll be a brick with the gps in there and battery to support it all, but at least its a pretty brick.
mmmmm vapor... tasty
Well, I like garmin, their products are nice, but I was never very impressed by their "operating system".
I, personally, would rather see Garmin move to integrate their chips into other devices. For instance, the nokia n95 would REALLY benefit from a Garmin chip over the Texas Instruments or whatever chip is in there right now.
Considering I think a major part of their income actually comes from the aeronautics industry, I have my reservations about their user interface when you put more and more features in it.
I'm n vious.
Well, if this had Google's OS and WLAN it would have been an absolute slam dunk. But still, all in all, pretty damn cool.
With a UI like that they can't lose! Cough.
Most likely AT&T. TMobile's planned 3G network for the US isn't compatible with their European network. Garmin is unlikely to make two phones for TMobile.
Wow, Kim Arnold, thats the macrumors guys name backwards.
Give a give a give a gaaaaarman
That's pretty darn cool right there.
I think Garmin had a couple of Palm OS and WinMo handhelds that were GPS equipped too.
Ahead of the game they are.
Holly frekin cow. Finally, a 3.5G phone with Real GPS, SMS, Email, Camera, Video, MP3 Music Player, and a Touch Screen! and actually sounds way better than the iPhone!
OMG, I'm dieing! I want one right now. This is a dream come true for me! I always wanted the iPhone, but I was always holding back because of the missing key features such as Video Recording, Real GPS and 3.5 frekin G ... Ahhhhh I want. :')
Wow, anyone got Garmin stock?
Interesting that there aren't any shots of the (virtual) keyboard.
The pic of the old car's an interesting choice too... showing off the camera abilities?
Having GPS highly integrated into the phone could definitely be cool. Buddy finder like helio phones would be neat, but all the screen caps of photographs makes me think how neat a GPS-tagged photo system would be.
Why the hell don't companies come up with their own UI.
That is just pathetic.
where the hell did this come from?
I'll take it. At&t seems the likely candidate since, like its been said, t-mo's planned network will be a "U.S exclusive". They would have to make 2versions of it (not uncommon for big mobile companies ie samsung and lg have gsm versions of a lot of their "sprint" phones, but this would be garmins first and so far only phone) I can always dump my "soon-to-be-second-rate" iPhone on my kid :D
Hmmmm, let's ask the question everybody always asks about Apple products.....battery life? Replaceable battery? Can it fit in a pocket without looking you have a sock in there? Data transfer options?
The most appealing aspect is that all of the GPS maps and poi's are built in, you don't need the 3g for those functions. You don't need the $10 a month for something like VZNavigator, and you don't even need network coverage either.
Wow, let the iPhone games REALLY begin!
I'd rather have a Garmin app on an Android Phone.
But generally speaking, the more competition the merrier!
ok.... is anyone else just sick of seeing things that look like modified iphones? I mean... come on.... can't people besides Apple come up with something original?
Apple fanboy whiners is what I'm sick of seeing. Although ... I'm willing to have somebody explain to me how this: [cache.gizmodo.com], is a UI ripoff. Thanks in advance
@Izim1: I think you'll find that the correct way of putting it is that LG and Samsung have Sprint versions of their GSM phones - a lot of the time, they take designs that are already on sale elsewhere in the world and make a CDMA/EV-DO/whatever-the-hell-weird-networks-it-is-you-lot-have-over-there version for the states.
I want to get this in nice and early before the inevitable comments appear - this is not an iPhone clone, it's clearly the same design they've already been using for their Sat-Nav systems, just with phone features added.
Yes, of course, had Apple not produced the iPhone, it might never have occurred to Garmin that they could produce a phone (though that might be a little harsh on them - link).
But, the design is just one of their Sat-Navs adapted so it will work as a phone as well, no Apple copying at all.
@Pepper: yeah, it was people like you I was aiming the end of my last post at.
It's not an iPhone rip-off, phones with large touch-screens aren't automatically iPhone rip-offs, get over it.
@Step666: Oh, but they are.
I can't work out if you're being sarcastic or not.
@Wilson
Nothing is more attractive than AT&T!!! :)
Stop this delusional nonsense, thats a clone and a bad one at that.
I'm glad they went with a vi-phone over an emacs-phone. I'd hate to have to re-learn all the keystrokes I'm used to.
i mean come on, is it me or does this just look cheeseball?????
it looks like such a bad Chinese knock of... Its got that nasty GPS UI feel... get real!
It's all about the sexy, can't-be-scratched, monitor-glass screen that the iPhone has. Garmin makes all their touchscreens with crappy screens, that required actual "pressing" (no dragging). Not a snowball's chance in hell.
@spjobs23: look at the iPhone, then look at the current range of nuvi Sat-Navs and see which one this looks more like.
nice idea, but by no means an iPhone killer. Have you guys ever used a Garmin product? There's about 100% chance that this thing is not nearly as polished and smooth as the iPhone. Nice try though, Garmin.
Can anyone say "Google Phone".
This is most likely my next phone. Screw the iPhone: MMS - check, GPS - check, video - check. Please have a flash on the camera!
Interface looks great!
Can't wait for spec sheet!
@csjk789: Why do you care whether or not it's an iPhone killer? Competition is good for ALL, no?
Hmm, no pic showing the keyboard, not nearly as lick-able by olivia munn as the iphone and with all the coole apps the iphone already has and will have after the sdk gets released, it's no competition. I'd rather wait for iphone gen 2 to get 3g and gps, edge and faux gps is good enough for right now. Why didn't garmin just get together with the android crowd, coulda been much more powerful.
I've never understood the value in video recording in a device like this. Hell, I've yet to see a halfway decent still camera in a phone, and I use my wife's iPhone weekly, and my BB Pearl daily. Crappy cameras!
What this thing has going for it is 3.5G, GPS, and what appears to be fully functioning Bluetooth. And I bet it'll be usable as a modem for computers without much difficulty.
Everything appears to be awesome. I just don't get video recording - do people really want that?
awesome, I respect Garmin far more than Nokia or whatever comes from Android....having said that, I think this is awesome just because it elevated the competition....the iPhone needs a GPS as good as this to keep up!
So my comment may have been a bit premature. If this thing has a crappy camera, terrible battery life and a slow UI it will not compete too well.
The UI looks very Googlish, simple, clean and to the point with Google local looking very integrated.
Some phones have great cameras (see Nokia N82, N95 and SE K series 810 and above). If this thing can take pics near them and have a battery life anywhere near SE phones then this thing will be the answer.
Video is sweet for capturing events at a party that may be otherwise hazy in the head the next day.
I have never used their touch screen stuff, but you think they would have taken out all the stops if they want to bust into a whole new market.
As far as this being an iPhone knockoff, I just don't see it. It isn't as shiny, screen is recessed, it doesn't have bubbled edges, it is a square with arched top and bottom, not uber rounded corners. A big screen doesn't equal iphone.
The phone looks great and hopefully pushes the phone market to adapt even more to what the customer wants. If it functions well, I will buy it.
Ohh yeah and notice iPhone is on my list of good cameras. The pics only look good on the phone and it won't compete as a camera phone until they add a flash and auto focus. Don't get me wrong. I will be in line to get iPhone G2 if they fix the myriad of deficiencies that the current one has. The iPhone has a sweet UI, but the phone and camera features are too lacking for it to be the ultimate portable device.
ahh no editing, should read "... is NOT on my list..."
So this is what happend when I left my iPhone back in my car with the Nuvi250. These Sluts!
:P - i'm impressed, anyone feel the same? i think i just pissed myself. WOW , someone actually hearing what people are saying. BUT , how come no mention of compatibility with, oh let's say, MY COMPUTER? yeah, you know the thing with a keyboard that plays music too! or did i skim over that part too? :\\
@92BuickLeSabre: haha nice touch
GPS + camera?
geotag the shit out of this here earth.
please
the UI on my Garmin 360 has some annoying quirks, unnecessary omissions that make me question if they can deliver a top notch cell phone. if not, then it'll be just another Motorola POS. well, one with a GPS in it.
Not a multitouch device.
It's just another enriched PDA not unlike Palm, Nokia and HTC etc offer.
@Rand:
They don't need to make two phones. One for the US that is compatible on all 3G freq's, for both ATT and Tmo. The EU can suck it.
I doubt this will be released on AT&T first, as AT&T has a partnership with Telenav
I may actually ditch my iPhone for this! My wife would also want one asap as she is asking me for a GPS. I would pay about $600.00 to $700.00 for it!!!
Great - something to beat the iPhone and get me from my Red Pearl
It's really sad to see the day that a GPS is the defining feature people would get excited about. We've already forgotten all our friends telephone numbers by placing all of them into our phone, now we're going to give up all of our latent ability to navigate by memory and just rely on the phone?
People that want GPS on their phone an are excited about it are the same people that complain about the iPod not having a FM tuner. It's not cool and completely unneeded.
Obviously the UI suffers from the "nephew" complex. Where the CEO invites his 16 yo nephew to copy the iPhone's interface. Sad Garmin sad.
Both the Garmin phone and the iphone demonstrate pieces of the overall puzzle. I'm still waiting for someone to make a phone with good navigation, pda functionality, an excellent music player, AND gps mapping.
Many of the gps phones that I've seen either don't speak the directions, are subscription-based, or are too limited to replace a vehicle navigation device such as a Garmin or TomTom.
This is the best integration of gps into a phone that I've seen yet, but I'm still holding out.
Cheers,
dave
http:\\theregoesdave.com
who knew I needed this!?
"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".
Garmin you trusty old tagger!