GPS Navigation Software for Smartphone

by Moriah Chesler
You can convert your smartphone into a GPS by installing a GPS application.

You can convert your smartphone into a GPS by installing a GPS application.

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A Global Positioning System (GPS) can track your location by satellite and directs you to your destination through voice prompting and maps. GPS products are available as stand-alone systems as well as plug-and-play solutions for smartphones. Many smartphones today are GPS-enabled; however, you may turn a non-GPS-ready smartphone into a GPS via software and an external GPS receiver.

Garmin

Garmin International, headquartered in Kansas, U.S.A, is a popular manufacturer of GPS solutions. Garmin makes the Garmin Mobile 10 and 20 products for Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. These come as a data card with maps and navigation software that you plug into your smartphone. The Garment StreetPilot is a software application designed exclusively for the iPhone or iPad and can be purchased at the iTunes shop.

Nokia

Since March 2010, Nokia has been producing GPS-enabled smartphones that come installed with Ovi Maps to provide free navigation services to its smartphone clients. Nokia is also making this service available for existing devices including Nokia N97 mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5800 Navigation Edition, E52, E55, E72, 5230, 6710 Navigator, 6730 classic and X6. You can also purchase or download third-party GPS applications for the Nokia smartphones at The Nokia Ovi Store. Some of these offerings include ViewRanger GPS, PathWay GPS 5 LE and Trimble Outdoors Light Edition.

TomTom

TomTom, headquartered in The Netherlands, is a manufacturer of GPS solutions. TomTom makes a GPS application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Maps can be purchased for many global locations, including the United States. For iPhone 3GS only, this application will provide a seamless navigation even if you are on a call. You can continuously listen to music on the iPhone or iPod while navigating with this application. When the navigator is giving you verbal instructions, the music gently fades.

Magellan

Magellan, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, is another GPS manufacturer. Magellan makes the Magellan RoadMate Application for the iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G and iPod touch products. It provides real-time traffic alerts, seamless navigation during a call or other simultaneous application, points-of-interest sharing, automatic location tracking of your vehicle, highway lane assistance and pedestrian mode navigation, among others.

About the Author

Moriah Chesler began writing professionally in 1989. She started as a software engineer documenting projects and company products. She has also contributed to the "Joomla!" community magazine, blogged for Teach Me Programming and JoomlaIsrael.net and authored several e-books on Bible vocabulary. Chesler has a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and electrical engineering from Smith College.

Photo Credits

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