The Kansas-based company claims that its Mobile XT is the first mobile phone-based navigation software that doesn’t require a monthly fee or subscription. Instead, users pay an upfront $99 fee.
It’s a one-time investment that gives customers full-featured GPS navigation on their smartphone whenever and wherever they need it, including areas outside of wireless network coverage, said Garmin director of mobile marketing Charles Morse.
The software includes preloaded maps and includes dynamic content such as real-time traffic alerts and fuel prices. Using Where to? and View map screens, users can route to a specific street address or choose from local points of interest, such as restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and gas stations. They can also get voice prompted directions, as well as saved routes, avoidances and trip logs.
Another feature of the software, called PeerPoints, is being able to send your position to any other phone, as well as see where other Mobile XT users are.
On some smartphones, users can also connect the GPS software to locations of contacts in their phone’s address book or to a calendar appointment.
Mobile XT is installed via a microSD card that has information either for the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, or Europe.
