NaviGadget

Sprint MOTOKRZRTM, MOTORAZRTM and MOTOSLVRTM available November

Oct 4, 2006 gps navigation, motorola, phones Leave a comment

Sprint just announced that MOTOKRZRTM, MOTORAZRTM and MOTOSLVRTM would be available in November and there wont be any other carriers offerings them they said. Why we care at Navigadget is becase all three devices will offer advanced features including high-quality cameras, Phone as Modem (PAM) capabilities, Bluetooth wireless technology and of course Telenav GPS application offering turn-by-turn driving directions.

We do not have any info on the functionality of the GPS navigation on these phones but we’re guessing it won’t be any different that what’s offered on i580.

We’ll be sure to let you know once it becomes more clear.

trimble launches AllSport GPS

Aug 28, 2006 fitness, gps navigation, software, tracking Leave a comment

Trimble today announced the launch of www.allsportgps.com, a web based subscription service that can help you keep track of your workouts on your mobile phone. The subscription fees range from $3 per month to $7 per month depending on if you want advanced features such as:

AllSport GPS Platinum lets you download maps to the phone, and view yourself in real time on the maps. You can also download recommended routes. And custom programs and activity types. You can even download someone else’s workout to race against.

AllSport GPS Platinum also automatically uploads you workouts and adventures to the AllSport GPS Website. When you finish, your GPS data is waiting for you online, complete with maps, graphs, and statistics. You can analyze your workouts, view your progress over time, and export you trips to view in interactive 3-D on Google Earth.

To be able to use the Trimble’s service you’ll have to be with a certain network provider and use a GPS enabled phone. Currently the service works with Nextel, Sprint, SouthernLINC and Boost Mobile and you can find a list of supported phones here.

GPS tracking for social networking at MSU

Jul 13, 2006 gps navigation, misc news, tracking 1 Comment

Monclair State University has implemented a program where they gave all incoming freshman a cellphone that comes equipped with a GPS tracker. Sounds a little Big Brother-ish, right? Well not really. I had a chat with an MSU employee who gave me the full rundown of the program and how amazingly awesome it is. Hit the jump to get the full scoop.

The entire system is an opt-in system. So you have to opt-in for the GPS to be enabled, then the individual GPS features are also opt-in. So nobody has to be tracked, ever.

One of the safety features that was explained in a 15-minute Guardian. So for example if you are drunkenly stumbling back to your dorm room and concerned about getting mugged, simply enable the Guardian feature on your phone. A little blip of you will pop up at the police station and the Guardian will remain on for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes it will remind you to turn the Guardian off. If you don’t because you were mugged, beaten, passed out, etc, the police will call the phone and also go to your location to find out what the problem was.

While the safety features are great. The social networking features of the GPS unit are what makes the program really shine my eyes and probably popular with the college kids. Using web-based software you can create special social groups and allow other people to see your location whenever you would like by enabling the GPS tracking. This could be especially convenient trying to meet up on campus for studying, or better yet, meeting up at the bars.

There are a wide variety of Nextel-based phones available and the basic plan costs are included in tuition and fees. So it may feel like it is a free phone, but you will be paying for it in the future. All-in-all this is an extremely handy system that can provide safety and fun for students. Good job, MSU.

via

state officials refuse to carry GPS enabled Nextel phones

Jul 12, 2006 gps navigation, misc news, motorola, phones 4 Comments

20 state officials were suspended yesterday for refusing to accept GPS enabled Nextel phones. The officials are state building and engineering inspectors for Massachusetts and oversee constructions as well as maintenance of amusement rides and such.

Officials said the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists, the union that represents the inspectors, agreed to the GPS-equipped phones last year. Under the February 2005 agreement, the inspectors agreed to keep the phones on “during all work hours,” but not during lunch or breaks. The only people with access to the data generated by the phones will be the public safety commissioner and two managers, the settlement says.

But one inspector who refused the phone said his union is grieving the policy, which he called “an invasion of privacy.”

Only two inspectors accepted to use the phone and another two were on vacation at the time. 20 employees rejected the GPS enabled phones leaving the public safety commission crippled.

Though the inspectors sat through a demonstration by a Nextel representative, they refused to yield and at the end of the day were suspended.

Said the building inspector who refused the phone: “They’ve jeopardized the public safety. If you have a trench collapse, there’s no inspector. If you have a building blow up, there’s no inspector to respond. There are no inspections.”

via

rugged GPS enabled phone Motorola i580 from Nextel

Jul 8, 2006 gps navigation, motorola, phones 6 Comments

You need a GPS-enabled phone that can withstand solar radiation and certified to military standards? Nextel just released the Motorola i580 rugged clam shell phone couple of days ago. In addition to high-tech features that would make any geek happy, the phone also can withstand whatever extreme environmental condition you may throw at it.

The i580 is available nationwide at Sprint and Nextel Stores for $279.99, after all available discounts and promotions.

Features

• 1.3 MP camera with video abilities

As the first rugged clam style device to feature an embedded camera phone, this device gives users a valuable tool for proof of work, consultation, documentation and more.

• Rugged construction

Certified to Military Standard 810 F for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, low pressuer, and solar radiation. Performs in extreme outdoor environments and stands up to dusty environments, drops, exposure to vibration from heavy machinery use, hot/cold climates.

• Rain Resistant

Certified to Military Standard 810 F for rain, humidity, and salt fog. Designed to withstand exposure to rain, sleet, and snow. Rubber encasing, interior linings and connections against water intrusion.

• Bluetooth wireless technology

Wirelessly connect to other bluetooth-enabled devices within 30 feet.

• Micro SD Memory Card Slot

Store images, MP3 files, and video to removable micro SD memory cards. 64MB card included.

• Nextel Nationwide/International Walkie-Talkie

Long-range, digital walkie-talkie feature allows you to get right through, at the push of a button. Also includes group walkie-talkie for communication to large groups and Direct Talk for off-network walkie-talkie usage.

• Direct Send

Offers the ability to push-to-send contact information from your contact list or images to other Nextel Direct Send enabled phones…instantly!

• GPS Enabled

Get step-by-step driving directions, trip planning and more when you add GPS-based applications like TeleNav, Mapquest FindMe and Trimble Outdoors.

• Email Capabilities

Preloaded with Mobile Email for access to desktop email applications. Read, reply to, forward, create or delete email messages. Manage your calendar, update contacts and synchronize over the air with your desktop application. Accessible on or off Nextel Network.

• Spekerphone

Make hands-free calls easily with a built-in speakerphone for conference calls.

• Java Applications

Run pre-loaded applications and games on download more from nextel.com/downloads. Pre-loaded applications include TeleNav, AccuWeather, Photoshare, IKTV and mobile Email Enhanced.

Rand McNally MONA Cellphone Navigation

May 26, 2006 gps navigation, motorola, phones, software Leave a comment

Would you rather trust your mapping needs to someone who’s been around since the civil war, or some upstart like Garmin or Magellan? If you chose the former, then Rand McNally’s MONA navigation service is just for you.

The service is a $9.99 application on your phone that has maps and directions. No big GPS unit or map updates to buy, they’re all included. The kink in the plan is—there’s always one—MONA is only compatible with GPS-enabled mobile phones such as the Motorola i710, i730, i736, i830, and i860. Also, the service only operates on Nextel. McNally plans to add more phones and providers soon, but if you meet the qualifications, this seems pretty useful for occasional driving directions.

via

TeleNav GPS Navigator 4.0 review from PC Mag

Mar 23, 2006 gps navigation, reviews Leave a comment

Sprint Nextel customers who travel frequently and never want to be without a handy GPS navigation solution will find a lot to like about TeleNav. It’s a relatively inexpensive, server-based GPS application that runs on your cell phone using Java. The service offers a lot of the flexibility found in much more expensive portable standalone GPS devices.

The TeleNav GPS Navigator is a server-based Java-enabled GPS application and service, not an autonomous GPS navigation product. It’s available from Sprint Nextel on both its CDMA and iDEN national networks, as well as on a few handsets on the Cingular and T-Mobile networks (though on the latter devices, you’d order the service separately from TeleNav and use it as part of your general data plan). The service plans available from Sprint Nextel cost from $9.99 a month for a basic plan limited to ten routes to $20 a month for unlimited use.

I tested the TeleNav GPS Navigator on the RIM BlackBerry 7520. With its large, 2.5-inch screen, the 7520 is a great fit for the very graphic service. The service is also available on the BlackBerry 7100i and on the dozen GPS-capable cell-phone models that Nextel offers. Among compatible Sprint handsets are multimedia phones, including the MM-5600 and the MM-7400, both by Sanyo, and the MM-535 from LG.

Currently, the way you get TeleNav is via an over-the-air download. The specifics will vary somewhat among Sprint Nextel devices and the other carriers, but generally you launch your device’s WAP browser and either click a preexisting download link for TeleNav or make your way to TeleNav’s WAP site. When using the BlackBerry 7520 you’ll need the BlackBerry Email Plan, and then you’ll need to download the TeleNav software application directly onto the device. Finally, you’ll need to activate the TeleNav Unlimited Plan…. pc mag review

Sprint and Bones in Motion Launch Mobile Fitness Application

Feb 8, 2006 fitness, gps navigation, software Leave a comment

Sprint and Bones in Motion are offering BiM Active, the first in a suite of applications that enables active individuals to use Sprint and Nextel phones and the Web to achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals. BiM Active enables runners, cyclists, and walkers to wirelessly capture and monitor their activity in real-time on GPS-enabled Sprint and Nextel phones. The service transforms the phone into a virtual coach and offers users feedback during their exercise through sound alerts. When the activity is complete, the exercise information is uploaded to a personal Web portal on www.bimactive.com. There, users can chart their personal
progress and share information such as routes with ratings and reviews. “Sprint customers can use BiM Active to transform their mobile phone into a fitness and lifestyle enhancement tool,” said Alana Muller, director of information data services for Sprint. “This is just one of the many location-based consumer applications Sprint offers that gives customers personalized information when and where they want it on the device they always have with them.”

With BiM Active, users can:

Do it: Record in real-time the distance, speed/pace, location, elevation and calories burned for outdoor activities. Real-time audible feedback provides motivation to achieve fitness goals.

View it: See performance summary, activity maps and speed and elevation charts on
the phone.

Share it: Wirelessly upload performance data to a personal online portal where users
can view their activities, save and compare them with previous entries. They can also
publicize information, including personal achievements and trail advice with the BiM
online community.

BiM Active is available from Sprint for $9.99/month and it works with Sprint’s Sanyo MM-7500, and Sanyo MM-9000 or with Nextel’s Motorola i860, i850, and i760. For more details go to BiM