Daily Auto News Garmin Partners with Asus for Nuvifone G60
Daily Auto News
Garmin GPS and tech company Asustek Computer Inc. were already manufacturing bedfellows for the upcoming nuvifone, but this week they cemented their partnership into something more official — even launching a web site. All this could only mean one thing — are we getting closer and closer to actually seeing the nuvifone.
As previously reported, and covered heavily in our GPS reviews, Garmin has had a few false starts with the nuvifone. But its recent FCC clearance in Dec. 2008 practically solidified the Smartphone’s appearance in stores in 2009, and this new wrinkle is further assurance.
According to the press release, the official partnership between Garmin and Asus will introduce the first Garmin-Asus nuvifone models the first half of this year, “all of which will continue to focus on GPS and navigation features, though it was not clear whether they would all run the Google Android operating system.” CNET reports.
In general, the alliance and announcement has left tech bloggers and industry news sites excited but confused as to what the next few months could bring.
“This is a cooperation between two independent companies — not a joint venture, merger or new company,” PC Magazine says. “Garmin and Asus will still manufacture all of their other product lines separately, but they’ll share the expenses and profits of their joint GPS-phone lineup.”
BusinessWeek speculates how these phones will size up to other Smartphones, especially the iPhone. “Despite its phenomenal success, the smartphone category still is up for grabs,” they write. “Apple’s iPhone strength has largely been a U.S. phenomenon. … But its weaker traction outside the U.S., coupled with the global economic crisis that has people holding on their phones longer, could leave the folks in Cupertino vulnerable to other market players on a global basis.”
As Garmin is one of the most prominent GPS manufacturers in the world, its new phone could cause more ripples than the iPhone has been able to. BusinessWeek also predicts more competition in the U.S., with the heavily anticipated arrival of the Palm Pre, and other popular devices like Samsung’s Instinct or the BlackBerry Bold. In addition, “there’s expected to be a slew of Google Android-based phone announcements in the next two weeks, and now the pc makers are trying their hands at the mobile business,” they write.
One way Garmin-Asus intends to make itself distinctive is to continue to focus on location-based services.
“All Garmin-Asus nuvifone devices will continue the product vision of the original nuvifone and will be LBS-centric devices that seamlessly connect, communicate and navigate. The original Garmin nuvifone that was announced in 2008 will be re-branded as the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60,” the press release reads.
The nuvifone G60 will first debut at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona next week, at which time more new is expected on the device’s functionality. Check U.S. News’ GPS reviews frequently for more updates on the upcoming nuvifone.
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