Free Google sat-nav shakes market

[hamba]

Free Google sat-nav shakes market

Shares in sat-nav device companies have fallen substantially after Google unveiled its free live sat-nav for mobiles on Wednesday.

US firm Garmin fell 18% after details of Google Maps Navigation were revealed. Dutch firm TomTom dropped 13% on when markets opened on Thursday.

The Google application promises free real-time, turn-by-turn directions for people to follow on their phones.

The Motorola Droid will be the first mobile phone equipped with the system.

Google Maps Navigation, revealed on Wednesday, combines services including a search engine to find addresses, Google Street View for photos of locations, and live traffic data.

Other mobile sat-nav applications, such as TomTom's, can cost up to £60 to add.

TomTom's share decline wipes out all of its gains since August. Separately the company warned of lower prices in the coming months.



Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2009/10/29 13:04:20 GMT
© BBC MMIX

 

[maarksparky]

brilliant!! well done Google.. go for it.. sick of paying a fortune on map updates.. ya beauty...

 

[earwig999]

It will either be full of adverts or they will produce a 'premium' version that you will have to pay for.

 

[Exclusive]

There doing this so more people buy android phones, earwig is correct tho, there will be defo another add on which you will have to pay...

but well done google,

 

[pks00]

lol, can just imagine adsense popping up somewhere. wonder if they will monitor your movements like the gmail monitoring (via adsense that is)