GPS navigation on iPhone?
Jan 15, 2007 gps navigation, phones
UPDATE (Aug 1st 2009) : It’s been a while since we published this article. Check out all the iPhone GPS navigation apps here.
Just a few months ago we were fantasizing about an iPOD with GPS functionality, or even an iPhone with GPS. Well, the wait is over, and iPhone is now a reality! It will be available in June – but we know some of you Navigadget readers are already making plans to use your iPhone as a GPS navigator.
If you read the specs of the new iPhone you must have realized there’s no integrated GPS chip on-board. Yes there’s Google Maps (as pictured above) which could help you figure out where you are but you’ll need to be connected to the internet for that to work. And we all know Starbucks Wi-Fi hardly makes it to the parking lot.
But no worries – iPhone does have bluetooth connectivity. So, you can get yourself a bluetooth GPS receiver, pair it with your iPhone, and you are set for the hardware part of things.
Of course you’ll need some software that can talk to the bluetooth GPS receiver. Then the software will be able to show your location on a map and give you directions. We have this feeling that Apple will release some sort of GPS navigation software until June that will work with your iPhone.
But let’s assume that’s not the case and see what options we have:
RouteBuddy – Can utilize Google Maps however the price does not include maps and even if you do get the maps you won’t have enough space for it since the maps for North America takes 12GB after it is expanded. Not to mention it doesnt give you directions. It is just a mapping software.
MAC GPS Pro – Also does not include maps. Doesn’t look like it can do navigation guidance either.
Garmin Mobile 10 – This is a bluetooth GPS receiver that comes with maps. However no support for Macs.
TomTom – Really cool software however no support for Macs.
So those are your software options. We’re not really Mac people here at Navigadget – so we maybe missing a few. Let’s all hope Apple releases a bundle (bluetooth GPS receiver + software) for a good price that works with iPhone. Go ahead and write a comment and let us know your thoughts.
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January 15th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Well, according to my sources, the iPhone will be a closed-device without any ability to install third-party apps. So unless it is already bundled with the phone, we won’t be able to use a GPS / Bluetooth combo.
Later- Martin
January 18th, 2007 at 5:11 am
RouteBuddy map installation size is soon to be dramatically reduced whilst still maintaining, arguably, the highest fidelity maps shipped by any developer in our market. Geocoding (address lookup) is due out soon and will be followed by an advanced routing model to replace the existing elementary one offered.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
thanks guys for bursting my bubble, that was my one of my few reasons for getting this phone…..now i am not so sure anymore….
it seems with all thier gadgets, from a practical standpoint…the HP IPAQ …is a better…BIGGER….but cheeper and more practical….better value for money..
June 22nd, 2007 at 6:32 am
Yeah Megel, I was thinking the same thing, getting an iPhone instead of a PDA or TomTom for navigation in my car.
I can understand that Apple wants to keep it’s iPhone small, light and energy efficient, but the fact that you won’t be able to install any 3rd party devices will really spoil it for me.
Google maps sounds nice (look at the Calamari add on the Apple website), but what good is it if it won’t guide you to your destination? Furthermore, a lot depends on how much the provider (AT&T) will charge for mobile internet data. In the main European markets (Germany, France, Italy and UK) there is little competition between mobile providers and it is my fear that the future provider (no provider has yet been selected to launch the iPhone in Europe) will price themselfs out of the market.
Let’s see what happens…
Greetings from Berlin Germany!
July 28th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
What the was the point of this post? You didn’t really give any info neither did you provide any solution.
GPS software does not exist for the iphone – at least not just yet…and the entire iphone user-base knows that. So, please post something worthwhile the next time.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:00 pm
A $50 phone has great gps. I have the nest phone available and can’t use gps.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm
This entry is many months old.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Very easy, no navi software -> no iPhone.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:12 am
So there it is. the iPhone already overruled by htc’s tytn II or touch cruise
December 25th, 2007 at 6:50 am
maybe this post can use an update
January 1st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
By the way, the iPhone seems to lack support for the Bluetooth “Serial Port Profile” commonly used by the bluetooth GPS devices. IF this support is missing from the bluetooth chip’s internal firmware, then you have a major problem, because the iPhone’s bluetooth chip will just ignore any GPS device that uses SPP. You’re basically dead in the water, since no navigation app will even be able to connect to a bluetooth GPS device. That’s why the rumored GPS devices seem to be using serial/USB to connect to the iPhone.
Evan
January 4th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I own a Garmin mobile 10 and it works great with my old mobile pc, any hints on when the iphone will be able to adapt to the Garmin mobile 10? I cant wait to beef up my Iphone with this Navigation, It only requires 2 gigs of space for the map of the U.S. Thanks in advance for your input.
January 7th, 2008 at 2:51 am
All nice, But I read a Iphone info reply asking for an up-date on the matter.
Well why don’t they up-date this matter by answering the real question:
WHEN WILL iPHONE BE COMPATIBLE WITH TomTom?
Because surely this is what we all want with this great phone and great navigation software.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
NEWS!!!!
iGo8 running on iPhone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5mIyhJ5YJU
February 1st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
It appears that the bluetooth stack in the iPhone does not support connecting a GPS to it. And that bluetooth won’t support connecting a keyboard either. Basically bluetooth is useless on the iPhone except for connecting a bluetooth speaker/mic for phone calls.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
i recently bought iphone, but never ever think that , there will not be a blue tooth option there. so wat solution i can do on that . even atleast accept some data from other mobile.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
The iPhone display is too small to be used as a NAV device if you prefer a visual map with voice instructions. Having a visual map is very important when looking for alternate routes and situational awareness. Also the iPhone keys will be awkward to enter destination data and other NAV data. I highly recommend buying a TomTom Go 920 or other TomTom to navigate and then just use your phone for talk’n or web services.
- Centerfield00
June 25th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
[...] using that info and Google Maps we could drive directly there. If we got lost or turned around – GPS to the [...]
July 19th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
As I understand it the iPhone does not have an integrates GPS chip – this is true. However the iPhone does not rely on just your WiFi connection to find your location – it also uses cellular tower location and signal strength to triangulate your position.
Still has the problem of software though without the internet connection… Hmm… That sucks – hopefully they’ll do something about that soon.
August 4th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
[...] my bad : GPS navigation on iPhone? — NaviGadget. I deleted my post after i read this. Things you can learn from the [...]
September 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
The iPhone has GPS, though no navigation, but really this story should be taken down since, yes, the iPhone does have GPS, can have 3rd party apps, and this story is well over a year old.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:43 am
No, the real question remains…
When and Will a turn-based GPS navigation software be available for the Iphone.
My current provider contract is nearing end and i am selecting a new one.
The one i have me eye on comes with an Iphone 3G. My current cell, Nokia N95, has Route66 working.
The worth of Iphone will increase dramatically in my opinion if Apple would allow route66, tomtom etc. to develop navigational software for the Iphone.
I for one would take an Iphone if this were possible, for now i’m going with some other brand as i ahve become too used to the GPS feature.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Despite the age and anachronicity of this article, it still comes up near the top of searches for ‘GPS navigation iPhone’. Of course, we all know now that the iPhone is not ‘closed’ and now has integrated GPS functionality…
…but we should probably all know by now that with a little soft-modding, so-called ‘cracked’ software is as easy to find and install as the official product. The moment one of these companies gets around to releasing turn-by-turn navigation software for the iPhone, you can bet it’ll be cracked, packed, and ready to download for free from any number of nefarious sources. This does not serve as an incentive for any of these firms, as piracy on the iPhone would have substantial repercussions elsewhere; ie- sales of existing hardware/software products.
I would love to see TomTom-style navigation on my iPhone, but I fear that this will not be a reality any time soon.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
An old and almost pointless thread…but…. TomTom have annonced a version for the iphone 3gs. whoppeee.
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:42 am
Just to let ya all know.. Navigon has released software for GPS on the Iphone… but still dont know if FW3.0 has SPP producal?
If it does.. even Iphone first gen.. will be able to become a GPS device.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hi all, Got v3.0 on Iphone still does not allow third party devices to be connected via blue tooth. Got Navigon for iphone (Europe) GPS on iphone too slow and not acurate enough. They need to let you have a third party device for it to rearly work. Apparently the tom tom device coming out will be able to cope… heres hoping
August 9th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Great post, thanks!
August 9th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Thanks for the info!
September 26th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Just buy a BMW with a navigation system, it’s more reliable :-)
and dont worry, you can still use your iphone to play songs while driving.