The Big Google Maps Mobile vs. Windows Live Search Showdown

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/08/the-big-google-.html' target='_blank'>http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/08/the-big-google-.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;Google Maps Mobile (GMM) is an extremely popular program.&nbsp; Absolutely everyone uses GMM at one point or another because it's so easy and looks pretty.&nbsp; But is there another game in town?&nbsp; Dwight Silverman of TechBlog put Google Maps Mobile head-to-head against Windows Live Search (WLS) on the Windows Mobile platform and it may surprise some that he found WLS the clearcut winner.&nbsp; It doesn't surprise me because I have used WLS on my WM phones for some time and find it gives me better answers quicker when I'm looking for something local.&quot;</em></p><p><img alt="" border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1188446172.usr11642.jpg" /></p><p>Interesting because I've never actually used Google Maps before. I have however used Windows Live Search many many times and&nbsp;I really like it. As a matter of fact, I'd say it's one of my most used programs. I don't feel that I need GPS because Windows Live Search does such a good job for me. So of course you know I'm going to ask, what do you use most often and which do you prefer?</p>

[hotdram]

For speed of map download: Google Maps
For finding business/directions: WLS - you can select an address from your address book, but with Google, you can't

I have used my BT GPS with both and like WLS better for that function.

~Rob

[trolane]

Windows Live Over anything else ever.
The GPS in windows live is awesome. I used it to drive to canada and it was dead on accurate from mass to montreal.
The maps are awesome, the application is the best ever for a mobile phone.

[David Tucker]

Not even remotely surprised. I was using GMM until, one day, I wanted to find a wachovia by my office. I was shocked when it returned only 7 Tampa results. WLS returned over 25.

I unistalled GMM and have noticed ever since how much better my results are on WLS.

[Mark Larson]

I have always used Google maps, but i'm going to try WLS now. I have it on my device, but never really used it.

I have also noticed the fiddly interface of GMM and would appreciate a more mobile-friendly UI.

WLS is available as a JAR as well, for J2ME MIDP 2.0 phones.

[Rocco Augusto]

i have them both installed so i usually only use whichever one has an icon on my homescreen when i need it :)

[socrates]

I had them both installed, but just recently when doing some cleanup I realized I hadn't used the GMM in months so uninstalled it and don't miss it at all. The WLS is great.

[Mike Temporale]

It's WLS for me. I find the Google maps don't offer the same level of coverage here in Canada. At least not where I roam. I've used WLS a couple times in the last week alone to help navigate around road construction and stuff.

[ScooperJay]

If you've used both, you know.

Windows Live hands down.

[SCPH]

I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but I have found the UI to be a bit better and more responsive than Google's offering.

Now.

I have a Cingular 2125 and want to get a BlueTooth GPS receiver to use with the phone and Windows Live maps. Does anyone have a recommendation?

It appears that "gps" is too small of a word for the forum search functionality, so I'll also post these:
gee pee ess
Global Positioning System
GGPS



Thanks.

[hotdram]

I have a Cingular 2125 and want to get a BlueTooth GPS receiver to use with the phone and Windows Live maps. Does anyone have a recommendation?




I would look at Globalsat's BT359. SiRFIII, WAAS, EGNOS.
I have a few GPS's with the SiRFIII chipset in them and the acquistion time and receiver sensitivity is amazing. Get a signal anywhere in my house and in dense foliage in the woods. My older, non-SiRFIII units, would not get the reception the SiRFIII ones do.

http://www.usglobalsat.com/item.asp?itemid=134

They list it at $159 USD, but it can be had much cheaper if you poke around.

~Rob