Top mobile sat nav software

There’s nothing worse than turning up to a meeting late because you couldn’t find the venue. Here's the best navigation software and devices to ensure you get there on time.

By Clare Hopping, 13 May 2009 at 15:19

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Google Maps for Apple iPhone is the best platform to view Google Maps on. This is due to the ultra-friendly user interface and fast GPS fix of the iPhone 3G.

Using the application, you can switch between 2D or 3D map, satellite view and now street view, making it easy as pair to find your destination.

To zoom into a part of the map, you simply have to pinch your fingers together, and to zoom out you just pinch outwards. You can then sweep your finger across the screen to move the map.

Like on BlackBerry Maps, you can search for Points of Interest using keywords. Simply search ‘coffee’ to find the nearest coffee shop.

To make it even easier to find your current location, a big red pin marks your current location so you’ll never get lost again...

Google Maps for Windows Mobile Professional is a slightly less advanced solution compared to the iPhone version, although this is partly down to the touchscreen interface on the iPhone.

For touchscreen Windows Mobile devices such as the HTC Touch Diamond2, zoom controls are at the bottom. The + and – logos are a little small and the stylus is put to good use here.

2D and 3D maps are still available and there’s still one of the most impressive PoI ranges available on a mobile satellite navigation system.

Like on all free satellite navigation apps, you can’t get voice directions, but Google Maps still provides a very in depth step-by-step text instructions and you can also view your route on the map itself which is handy for an overview.

Paid-for software

TomTom Navigator 6 for Windows Mobile is a solid option, and with good reason. TomTom is the most widely used standalone satellite navigation system, so it’s no surprise that the mobile version is equally intuitive.

Firstly, TomTom Navigator 6 comes packaged with TomTom Home that allows you to manage, store and transfer all of your content and services to your mobile.

Like on Vodafone Find&Go, you can find other users of the software and transfer particular maps and locations to them, which is perfect if you’re trying to plan a business meeting with colleagues or contacts.

Like on the standalone TomTom system, you are presented with an estimated arrival time, which can help plan your time better, and there are speeding alerts that will alert you if you break the speed limit.

All this comes on a microSD card to slot into your chosen Windows Mobile device for complete ease of use.

TomTom Navigator 6 costs £90 and includes maps of Western Europe.

Telenav for BlackBerry is a perfect business tool because of its detailed and extensive lists of Points of Interest, including more that 10 million business listings.

These listings include Wi-Fi hotspots so you can find an internet connection on the move. This is especially useful if you need to send a large file over the internet while you’re on the move between meetings.

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8 comments

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Windows Mobile has more functionality than you think!

I'm using an AT&T Fuze (a.k.a. HTC Touch Pro) running Google Maps 3.0.1.6 which has lots of great functionality. I can say that even though I have "fat fingers" I use nothing but touch when working with Google Maps ... no stylus required! Up front, I want to say that I have a 3G unlimited data plan, which also provides much of the functionality described below. No data plan? No functionality! As you stated, Google Maps on Windows Mobile does have have Map, Satellite and Street views. If desired, you can even report "inappropriate" street view content. The zoom icons are at the bottom, but don't affect my map view. It also integrates into Google's Latitude, if you want to keep track of your friends and vice versa. Google Maps has a great search function, which is great on trips, whether looking for coffee or restaurants or whatever POI you desire. You can also select one of the results and call their telephone number, in case you have questions or need to make reservations. It also provides you with driving, public transit or walking directions. It can show traffic which helps you to avoid congested areas. Traffic is shown as Green (over 50 mph), Yellow (26 to 50 MPH), Red (less than 25 MPH) or Gray, where no data is available. By the way, you can even save locations as "Favorites." I also love the interaction between Google Maps and other WM apps. For instance, I can lookup Contacts' addresses for mapping. I also have a program called GCz for Geocaching that will show cache locations (as red balloon pins) on Google Maps. The interoperability between these (and other) apps is really good. In conclusion, while I don't have "pinch" controls, I think I can safely say that is the only thing "lacking" from the Windows Mobile version. Thanks again for an great article!

By dscammell on Thursday May 21

wish

I wish i could have one of blackberry celphones.

By neycohvem on Thursday May 21

hello!!!,..........

can u please give me a free blackberry cellphone because i found it useful in my life..i really like your site.i only hoping that i'm the one of the members to have that in free.thanks!

By rafox on Monday May 25

nardie

weee... i hope that i can get one of this. i like this kind of phone., having more useful application i think. can you give me a blackberry celphones.

By junnard on Monday May 25