Best SatNav for a mobile phone

[bigmikel]

Hi there,

My Tom Tom map is quite old and instead of getting a new one I was thinking about getting a new satnav. I had various satnavs in the past, but never a combo wiht a mobile phone.
I think it is the right moment to consider a satnav operating on a mobile phone. I travel abroad a lot and each time I have to pay for renting a satnav. In some cases this costs almost same per day as the car rental. How cool would it be to have the sat nav always with me?

Now, there are so many offers out there that I got lost. iPhone, Windows Mobile phones, Androids... And then once you choose the platform you have various software. It's just too much for me to comprehend.

So maybe you could share your thoughts about your experiences with SatNavs on mobile phones?
What platform is best? Which software is most suitable for small screens. What about reception? Is it important to have AGPS or a normal one will do?

Any input will help.

Thanks a lot!

[amir_j]

would not recommend iphone for your needs as limited multi tasking so you if you go to do something else will have to restart.

I currently use a htc hero with co pilot. Have a look on google and you tube for reviews and demo.

[bigmikel]

thanks amir_j

iPhone is already at the bottom of my list. Mainly because of lack of multitasking.

I will probably go for a Windows Mobile phone or maybe Android, but then I would like to see opinions about GPS reception in recent models and best software to go for.

[clonmult]

bigmikel said:

I think it is the right moment to consider a satnav operating on a mobile phone. I travel abroad a lot and each time I have to pay for renting a satnav. In some cases this costs almost same per day as the car rental. How cool would it be to have the sat nav always with me?

From what you've said there, I think there's only one choice.

Although a question first - what other uses are you likely to have for the mobile, other than calling and possibly texting?

I picked up a Nokia 5230 as a replacement phone and satnav, and its been a revelation. Installed the Nokia maps (free download), downloaded the maps (free download for virtually anywhere in the world), started it up.

It got a lock on in a couple of seconds, routes are generally good. Interface is quite good (although very different to the others I've used before). Its also got the Michelin and Lonely Planet guides built in. I don't however recommend the surfer dude voice guidance, it gets irritating, like, dude!

All that on a phone that handles multi tasking easily, has a reasonable browser (with Opera Mobile), does a good job as a music player, and even though the camera is only 2mp, its still quite good for video and the occasional still.

For only £80 on payg.

[bigmikel]

clonmult said:

...

I picked up a Nokia 5230 as a replacement phone and satnav,

...

Thanks for that info clonmult.
I have to say that I am not a big fan of Nokia...
Nokia was always more like a small playstation. I like when the apps are not for time wasting but for time saving. The other thing is that I may need some business apps and am not sure if Symbian OS would support them. But I will have a look.
What about GPS signal in large cities, between buildings and on multi level motorway junctions? That's where you usually need the GPS most.

[clonmult]

bigmikel said:

clonmult said:

...

I picked up a Nokia 5230 as a replacement phone and satnav,

...

Thanks for that info clonmult.
I have to say that I am not a big fan of Nokia...
Nokia was always more like a small playstation. I like when the apps are not for time wasting but for time saving. The other thing is that I may need some business apps and am not sure if Symbian OS would support them. But I will have a look.
What about GPS signal in large cities, between buildings and on multi level motorway junctions? That's where you usually need the GPS most.

I've used the satnav on 3 Nokias so far - N95, N85 and now the 5230. Never had a problem anywhere.

The majority of Symbian apps I've used have been more business oriented, and thats where Symbian was first pushed in a big way - for business. In fact its normally been stronger on business/productivity apps than it has been for gaming. Office suite, PDF viewers, finance apps, etc.

One things for sure, there's a lot less of the useless iFart type apps for Symbian than there is for the iPhone.

[bigmikel]

clonmult said:

I've used the satnav on 3 Nokias so far - N95, N85 and now the 5230. Never had a problem anywhere.

The majority of Symbian apps I've used have been more business oriented, and thats where Symbian was first pushed in a big way - for business. In fact its normally been stronger on business/productivity apps than it has been for gaming. Office suite, PDF viewers, finance apps, etc.

One things for sure, there's a lot less of the useless iFart type apps for Symbian than there is for the iPhone.

Well, maybe it's just me. The way Nokia is advertising makes an impression that this is a 'game-phone'. I had N95 for some time as a company phone and it was more like a cheap Chinese video player, than a phone. Although the best busienss phone, in terms of battery life, was the old Nokia 6210. Up to 5 days of juice with heavy use... But I am goin OT now