Google Free GPS Launches, Slams Garmin and Tomtom

by Truemorist | October 29, 2009 at 09:39 am

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Google Maps Navigation has launched in beta, and it slammed Garmin and Tomtom. Google Maps Navigation uses all that data gleaned by Google Maps and Google Street View, and turns it into a GPS mobile app, which is really quite predictable. It's in beta, but Googe Maps Navigation is free, and Garmin's and Tomtom's stock prices got absolutely spanked.

Map info isn't stored locally, but most first-time users

Creating and maintaining a map of the entire world, together with points of interests and traffic info, plus developing the algorithms that make sure you don’t take a wrong turn, costs millions of dollars. But Google is now offering it for free.

People who never cared about it will try it out to see how it’s like. In a matter of months, Google will control a huge, previously untapped portion of the market.

Of course, this means that people will be using their phones when they drive, but come on: you all do that already, don't you? Don't lie to me.

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