Smartphone Navigation: Does It Live Up To The Hype?

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.ppcw.net/?itemid=2104' target='_blank'>http://www.ppcw.net/?itemid=2104</a><br /><br /></div><i>"...what amazed me most is the flexibility and mobility of such a solution when I tried it when I was walking through Munich. I put the GPS receiver on the shoulder strap of my bag and had the navigation software running on my Smartphone. From time to time I took out the phone and checked my position and yes - the phone was always up to date. This kind of navigation is much easier with a Smartphone, especially if it is a clam-shell, than with a Pocket PC because you simply close the phone and it is protected while the navigation software continues to work"</i><br /><br />Arne Hess from PPCW.net takes a walk with his MPx220 and Bluetooth GPS receiver. I'm not sold on Smartphone navigation myself. However, I don't do much traveling, and I have lived in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) all my life. So I'm usually pretty good with finding places. What do you guys think, is Smartphone Navigation a key growth area? Does it really live up to the hype?

[choo_choo]

Is there a Smartphone app with maps for the US? How large are these maps? Will they fit within on an SD card?

[Santa Fe]

There are at least two. Mapopolis and Microsoft Streets and Trips (2005). Mapopolis seems more accurate but neither are very user friendly to me.
Map sizes depend on how much territory you download but typically will be small enough for an SD card.

If one has to haul around a GPS reciever to communicate with the phone it seems that a better solution would be a stand alone and full featured GPS unit.