Sat Nav on a Mobile Phone?

[pdavison]

I was thinking of buying one of the sat nav systems like the TomTom Go but I've heard that you can buy software for certain phones that does the same thing.

Now I understand that this option may not be as good as the real thing but it sounds like a good compromise to me.

Anyone know what phones can do it (preferably Nokia) and how much the software is and whether they're any good?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[moreymach]

Tomtom do one....

www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=23&Language=1

.. I think it works by d/l the maps you need by gprs so that would be an extra cost.
Hope that helps

Guy.

oooops looks like the maps on on an MMC card..sorry

>> Edited by moreymach on Wednesday 5th January 12:23

[pdV6]

Surely you'd need a GPS receiver that could interface with the phone?

[catretriever]

A company called Wayfinder have a product called, wait for it, Wayfinder that runs on Nokia Series 60 phones and the SE P900. Maps are downloaded via GPRS, but then you will need a separate GPS receiver to connect to the phone in order to determine your location.
Maps are pretty basic apparently so it's good for navigating on foot, but not much cop in the car.

[Don]

catretriever said:

A company called Wayfinder have a product called, wait for it, Wayfinder that runs on Nokia Series 60 phones and the SE P900. Maps are downloaded via GPRS, but then you will need a separate GPS receiver to connect to the phone in order to determine your location. Maps are pretty basic apparently so it's good for navigating on foot, but not much cop in the car.

Link?

[off_again]

The TomTom Mobile one is excellent. Its got the full set of maps and stuff you would expect on a PDA and the quality is pretty good. Though, since the screen will be much smaller you will probably rely on the voice guidance.

Its supplied with a SD card with all of the relevant info (for the MS Smartphone you dont even need to do any installation!) and its ready to go. The only fundamental problem that I see is that you will need a GPS - the TomTom one comes with one for around £170. BUT, its Bluetooth so if you have a BT headset for use in the car you are stuck.... could conflict and probably will cause a nightmare. Some phones dont have a pukka car kit available so it might be a little limited.

Wife has an SPV and I just managed to get a full car kit off eBay. Looking to get the TomTom stuff next month so will report back from there....

(p.s. need to fit the car kit too, but thats another story!)

[catretriever]

Don said:

Link?

Never heard of Google Don?

NO?

Oh...OK then, here you go

www.wayfinder.com/index_en.php

[love machine]

What I can't understand is "Does your life really need one of these?"

It is totally beyond me. I haven't owned a mobile as I don't need one. It's just another way of extracting cash out of you. Am I missing something?

[MilnerR]

love machine said:

What I can't understand is "Does your life really need one of these?" It is totally beyond me. I haven't owned a mobile as I don't need one. It's just another way of extracting cash out of you. Am I missing something?

They are useful if you do a lot of miles and have to find lots of different addresses. There's also the fact that they are fun gadgets to mess about with. Lets face you don't need a 350bhp sports car, but i still wouldn't mind one

[phatgixer]

If you have a Nokia with Symbian 60 (6600 or later) then THE best product has just been launched. It really is phenomenal..

Route 66 - click here

[url]www.66.com/route66/index.php[/url]

[dazren]

Phatgixer.

We've got three mercs with Nokia 6130i car kits. Do any of the new Nokias slot into the 6310i cradle?

cheers

DAZ

[phatgixer]

dazren said:

Phatgixer. We've got three mercs with Nokia 6130i car kits. Do any of the new Nokias slot into the 6310i cradle? cheers DAZ

You need a Cark91 converter to make the cradle into a pop port compliant device. I will find out what will then fit in the cradle. Certainly a 6230 does, but that of course is not Symbian 60. Will update later.

[dazren]

Bugger, sorry made a mistake, they're 6310i nokias.

It is handy eveyone in tha family having the same phone, but I understand these are now discontinued. I'm wondering what new mobiles are out there for when the current ones are broke/need replacing. I don't really want to go to the hassle and expense of having to ripout a couple of car kits, and the pay further software licence fees (as some of the kits are integrated factory fit ones).

cheers

DAZ

>> Edited by dazren on Wednesday 5th January 14:10

[phatgixer]

I knew what you meant. The pop port phones that are supported by the converter and fit in the cradle are these

Compatible with the Nokia 3100, 3200, 6100, 6220, 6230, 6610, 6820, 7210, 7250 and 7250i


None of which are Symbian 60, so the Route66 thing will not work with them.

But if you want to update your phone, there is now a neat and tidy solution. CARK91 pop port converter.

[humpbackmaniac]

I can speak with some authority on this! (see profile)

While we do not do what you are looking for there are those who do and do so very well.

Route 66 is the best i have tried of the onboard systems, however there are some far better IMO on the brink of release.

They can work on both the GPRS or off/in board GPS recievers exactly as our software does. Check your memory capacity and speeds though as many run Sooooo slowly that your already home by the time it wakes up. Or at best just past teh junction you needed.

Failing that there is an excellent call in navigation/concierge service i hear that are soon to include speed camera locations???

>> Edited by humpbackmaniac on Wednesday 5th January 14:59

[pdavison]

Thanks for all the pointers so far.

I'm probably being stupid but I have a Nokia 6820, can I use this to run this software by using the converter?

It is sounding more and more like the purpose built systems may be a better solution (if not slightly more expensive!).

[pdV6]

pdavison said:

I have a Nokia 6820, can I use this to run this software by using the converter?

Nope - there's 2 issues on the go here, now:

1. using newer pop-port nokia handsets with an older (non-pop-port) car kit; that's what the converter's for
2. running the route-66 software on a symbian-60 phone (which none of the above mentioned nokia's are)

[mcflurry]

pdavison said:

Thanks for all the pointers so far. I'm probably being stupid but I have a Nokia 6820, can I use this to run this software by using the converter? It is sounding more and more like the purpose built systems may be a better solution (if not slightly more expensive!).

A Frayed Knot. You need a symbian phone to use these, i.e. a Nokia 6600 or 7610, or a Ericcson as above.