October 28, 2009   iPhone Apps, Video

Uh oh! Google releasing free turn by turn GPS app for Android

Just when you thought it was safe to buy a nav app for the iPhone, Google goes and announces a free app for Android, and says it’s going to be available for the iPhone if Apple will let it into the App Store.

The app, called Google Maps Navigation, will ship with phones running the Android OS 2.0 and includes search by voice, search for points of interest by voice while in route, satellite and street view, and support for a hardware dock for ‘certain devices.’

This won’t be great news for TomTom, Navigon, or any of the rest. Google says the app is U.S. only for now, and will be seen first on the Verizon Droid which will appear in November.

Talk about disruption! With the FCC watching it will be most interesting to see if Apple allows the app onto the iPhone and, whether yes or no, the effect on Android sales.

I can’t wait for all the fur to fly. You can watch a video of the app in action in this YouTube clip. Admit it. You want this!

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[via | The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)]

  • KneeneeDa

    can I dl maps to avoid roaming fees? at least in 2d

  • SuperShadow

    TomToms are inaccurate. But I can’t afford any type of data plan :(

  • invreview

    None of the paid GPS navigators have most of the practical features found in GMN. Also, I do not know of any other smartphones GPS apps (paid / free) that come close to GMN. Thank-you very much, Google!

  • ioanliviu22

    @coolsims94 so… smartass, i am an iphone user… WHAT DO YOU DO IN ROAMING ? ??????? I’m on Navigon Europe. No internet needed. I would like to know how much do you pay for roaming data for 2000 km navigation….. Huh?

  • topblknavy

    they sure as hell were “smart” to NOT let us hear that *#(@^$ robotic voice that all of us hate but google won’t let us change. i’m sure, looking at the street names, they were horribly mangled.LE ME CHANGE THE VOICE!

  • TheYashu200

    does it work on my nokia n97 .. is it an app or it comes with google mobile …???

  • braincon2

    Lol. I love that shirt :) . Where can I get one?

  • hos5szaknvx

    Free-Ipad.tv

  • DawidHudziak

    google is going to rule the world someday…

  • toto4293

    “I am here”… x’D

  • Nicholasbest2010

    But Google Maps Navigation Can’t Using In Malaysia ? Why ???????????

  • 8BitDavid

    @prunex You need internet or wireless coverage.

  • giocal

    LOVE that our lawn sculptures are in this video!

  • JackChord

    cashmab N1 is just right, dude.

  • megamanredsuit

    armadillo willys!

  • framelocator

    I want that t-shirt too!!!

  • cashmab

    Should I get the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Thunderbolt? Will the Thunderbolt have a similar car docking station so I can use the google navigation?

  • MrProschka

    лажовщики… в России не работает ваш навигатор на андроиде, хоить и прошит… нету типа маршрутов для вашей местности!

  • prunex

    do you need a internet conexion or the maps are “saved” in your device???

  • presleysonlima

    Precisamos com urgência do serviços no Brasil!

  • MrGab185

    @cinvm08 if you have the google nexus one HTC its free with the phone but i think it is free for any phone that uses android

  • ZenoYoranPayona

    I like his T-shirt =D

  • BabbelOwnsYou

    but they don’t explain you how to download?

  • SkateGuitarBball

    why use museums?

  • cinvm08

    Is this aplication free from the android market?

  • TALKCalgary

    RIP TomTom

  • Veilside920

    103 iphone users are mad

  • doshong

    @zmarco1980 yes this app is useful. you can set not to drive at toll or highway and it’ll not guide you to toll/highway. i would suggest htc evo 4g/sprint carrier which i’m using.

  • foxh8er

    I’m sorry, but if theres a “hole in the wall”, chances are you don’t want to be there. :)

  • sikkwittet

    make it also gps, when i got to go to other countries it sucksand with all the stupid data limits….

  • stylistar

    feel so sorry for 102 schmuck

  • 123macedonia

    can i use this app with GPS connection only?

  • S1NC4P

    I’M HERE. YOU NOT!

  • force2013

    he got faceraped! no im serious xD

  • fs2004josh

    when will google finally do a major update to there nav already?

  • parasnarvekar

    its been almost a yr and haf since dis video was posted!!! we need one for India!!!!!!

  • Hayaserforeveer

    god dam google moogle, when will it be available for iOS devices

  • thekingofcobra

    Can we Navigation Google Maps in Cambodia ??

  • zmarco1980

    A killer application for all Sat Nav !

  • zmarco1980

    @doshong Hi, do you find useful? I’m thinking to buy a smartphone with Android… do you suggest me?

  • doshong

    I use this app everyday.

  • francicote

    android is the best!!!!

  • anekste

    google is THE SHIT ! woop woop

  • bass109

    jesus christ is the way, truth and life

  • 573W1E6R1FF1N

    Google when this is pre cached, then stand alone Sat Navs are obsolete

  • DONYBUENO

    Privacy Zero in the future … OMG!Imagine that in the hand of government. oQ

  • zbarsky

    Used Google Navigation for the first time this weekend – very impressive, worked perfectly. I hope they can release a version where a data connection is not always required.

  • derZyklusII

    So now can google track us wherever the hell we are, and save that info into a database for later view.. NWO anyone?

  • maluch525

    does not work for my wildfire in czech republick

  • misterchill

    @Wilh87 It works for my HTC Desire in Canada…

  • nikvacca

    My android 1.5 dosent support it what can i do ? upgrade (obvious) o wait until it’s work on 1.5

  • ItsMrSeb

    his right nostril is bigger than the left one

  • kpbrigade

    @pumpfever lol y.. and why do we have to eat.. hahaha serious?

  • pumpfever

    This is so awesome!!! I wonder how google does for offering for “free” all their products? =S

  • Timewartimelocked

    @coolsims94 no the google colors will be there and they will taste like epic FAIL ohh wait google never fails?

  • Timewartimelocked

    @Hiermoetikvankotsen : )

  • makkurocks

    will it be released for other platforms … symbian etc ??/

  • amitav2

    How much data it’s gonna eat? …and if I’m in roaming?

  • Wilh87

    Why wont this app work on HTC Desire? :( Or are the navigation maps only available in some conteries..?

  • adrianmignogna

    @marko18051986 Motorola Milestone

  • marko18051986

    which motorola is this?

  • maisto123

    can this application be used on a blacberry curve 8530?

  • coolsims94

    @Timewartimelocked …hummm idk about choclates…. what would it be like!…a google amount of flavors in every box?? mabey??

  • NitekMuscle

    @bax323 What money is being wasted? This particular navigation aid is free. Secondly, maps are only as accurate as the databases from which they’re created.

  • sangolt88

    I’m stuck at “Checking navigation availability”. Samsung Galaxy S.

  • Computerhelp92

    My phone (orange san framsisco/Zte blade) uses GPS satalites and only uses the data for loading the map, it’s great only around 500-600kb per hour.

  • diegodebruyn

    does it work without a internet connection?

  • Timewartimelocked

    lol TOMTOM vs. GOOGLE this always happens to all major owners wtfgoogle OS vs. windows OS vs. MAC OSAndroid vs. iOS 4.1 vs OviW T F SOON THEY WILL MAKE COMPUTERS, TVS, GOOGLEPLAYERS (IPOD) AND MAYBE EVEN FOOD BRANDINGS LIKE GOOGLE CHOCLATES WTF???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  • dharmastipulate

    Free Energy is real but the coverup is strong, if you are interested in a REAL free energy machine then just search for the LT MAGNET MOTOR in the youtube video search , it is probably the ONLY working magnet motor out there. Join the free energy revolution!!

  • 4340cupcake

    1 day ago this has nothing to do with the video but does anyone know where i can buy v.c andrews “rain” the moive with the prequeal included? btw i love google instant :)

  • photopete

    Being a photographer who works in Washington DC my job requires me to drive around DC all day, Before I bought navigon I used Google maps all the time to get around it worked fine but it lacked the re-routing feature. So I ended up buying Navigon for iPhone. I have no doubt the Google navigation will work great in DC but I will still probably use my navigon most of the time because of the downloaded maps. I think that a free navigation system is great but there will always be a use for navi systems that have downloaded maps as long as there are dead zones with your wireless carriers.