Henk van de Goor's Bloggers@large

I have about a year to go before my current mobile subscription ends and I will be able to pick out a new phone. People that know me (or read my blog), know that I am a big gadget lover. Many have asked why I do not own an Apple iPhone. I currently own a T-Mobile MDA Vario IV (HTC Touch Pro) running Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro. Well, quite simply: Apple is just too trendy, too expensive and too closed-source to me. But mostly the first part: everyone already owns an iPhone or iPod. And most of their owners have all turned into "iSheep" (well done Apple). It's like there are no other devices left. It's like everyone drives a Ford Focus or something: boring!

Anyway: my next phone is definitely going to be an Android powered phone. Currently I am quite impressed with the Motorola Droid. It's will be launched in the US in November (6th if I am informed correctly) and it features the new Android 2.0 and the new Google Maps (beta).

The phone has very nice design and big screen! I love the Android/Motorola take on the phone interface. Motorola is also known for building sturdy phones. My take overall: very cool. Don't know if it's going to be sold in Europe or not.

But back to Google Maps. The new version was launched this week and it was a bombshell for all current GPS manufacturers. TomTom stocks dropped 33% (!) in two days (by the way: that's a Dutch company). Garmin and other manufacturers stocks have dropped as well. Why? Well, quite simply: Google Maps is for free!

Now, in the video below, you can see what the fuzz is about. Google Maps now (finally) offers step by step instructions. Before you just had to guess where you went. No spoken instructions (yet?), but nevertheless a big step forward. It also has spoken directions (haven't heard it yet, though). There are other very nice features as well. I would say; just watch the video.

Now, one questions remains: is this really going to be a TomTom killer? No, I don't think so. At least not in it's current form. And I will tell you why.

Google Maps depends on you being online and having a data connection on your phone. The other GPS devices have build-in maps. Now, you might argue: "hey, most people have a phone subscription with data anyway, so what's the problem?" Well, quite simply put: within your own country/area there is no problem. But have you ever gotten a bill for data-transmissions while you where roaming? Right: that really chapped your *ss didn't it?

So using Google Maps while you are abroad is not really an option. Not to mention that data connectivity isn't really available everywhere or fast enough. I have first hand experience with that myself. I tried (the old) Google Maps and while driving it just can't get the data downloaded fast enough to keep up.

Only when Google Maps offers some kind of pre-loading of maps or something like it, they will really wipe-out the competition. For now, I think that all the big telecom companies are laughing all the way to the bank; thanks to Google Maps.



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