Google Backtracks On Free iPhone Navigation

After what appeared to be a confirmation from Google employees that free navigation was headed to the iPhone, it now says that's not the case. Were Google to offer free navigation for the iPhone (and other platforms), Google could seriously threaten dedicated GPS and navigation providers.Google's move to offer free guided navigation on the Android platform last November was a big deal. It took direct aim at companies such as Garmin, TomTom, TeleNav and others, who all offer stand-alone navigation devices and/or mobile apps for smartphones. The Motorola Droid led the way, and others soon followed. Free navigation was first available only to Android 2.0 and up, but it eventually filtered down to devices running Android 1.6.

Early this year, Nokia made a big announcement and freed up its own Ovi Maps service. Ovi Maps used to require users to pay for turn-by-turn directions. Nokia's move was seen as a response to Google's.

But Google isn't satisfied. It's going to bring free directions to devices other then just those running Android. During a press event in London, on-site reporters believed that Google had confirmed it would bring free navigation to the iPhone. A Google spokesperson explained that that's not the case. "We did not say we would bring it to iPhone, we said to date we've had it on Android and that in the future it may come to other platforms but did not confirm this will be coming to iPhone at all," a Google spokesperson told PCWorld. That's too bad, but begs the question, is Google working on free navigation for the iPhone?

Google's navigation system on Android works similar to Nokia's in that it stores the directions on the device. "Google Maps pre-caches the entire route," explained Mobile Maps product manager, Steve Lee. "It needs a data connection when you ask for navigation. But while driving to your destination, if you intermittently lose the connection, it will still carry on. As long as you stay on the route." Nokia's software behaves in the same way.

This will be a boon for smartphone users, and a bane to dedicated navigation companies. It will be even more troublesome if Google spread free navigation to all the major smartphone platforms.

Google didn't say when the software would become available. "Google prides itself on innovating in markets that have been stagnant for a while," said Hugo Barra, director of mobile products at Google. "I think navigation is a good example. It will be good for users."

[Via Mashable]