Sprint Nextel has long been leaders in adopting GPS technology and allowing developers to build new applications that leverage the phone, network, and Internet.  GPS Navigation on mobile phones is a very complicated endeavor.  Imagine for a second what has to happen.

The phone has to read a GPS reading from GPS satellites, then it sends this information to Sprint’s wireless network,  Sprint’s network sends the message to the web server, then web server processes information with heading and speed, and sends information back to Sprint, Sprint sends to phone,  and then phone receives information to process changes on the screen and update the image and prepare the voice commands.  This is several networks and systems working in conjunction in near real-time (GPS Network, Sprint Network, Internet, Web Server, and Phone itself).  It’s amazing.

Practically, the main reasons why you would want a GPS application in your hand, versus in the car, is that it is very affordable and very convenient.  Adding Sprint Navigation to a data plan is only $5.00/month extra.  This is very competitive versus other onboard GPS systems that run into several hundred dollars.  TomTom 920 on 1/14/2007 is priced at $549.95 on gpstore.com website.  $5.00/month versus $549.95 is a big difference.  Outside of the upfront difference is the ongoing costs of a phone based system is less.  Every few years the onboard systems ask to update the maps, this is because the world changes and things that were around 2 years ago are no longer around or there is a new road and new neighborhoods that get built into maps.  This update cost money, some more or some less, but this cost is rarely incorporated into the purchase decision by the buyer.  So the real comparision is $5.00/month versus $550 + maintenance costs.  This again is a no brainer.

The convenience factor cannot be denied with phone based systems.  The portability of a cell phone is hard to beat.  You can use the device in your friend’s car, you can use it in a rental car, you can use it while walking around town or when your lost on foot, and you can use it on a bicycle (though harder).  This is a great value for true Navigation wherever you are not just when you are in your car. 

Phone that are Smartphones have greater memory and resolution, so the application works better on these units.  They have a much richer display of information on the screens, can talk to you with louder and larger speakers, and they have a greater battery life than smaller phones.

Come by our store and we can demonstrate the product for you.

  

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