Disqus
An updated version of RIM’s Traffic application hit the Beta Zone for a few weeks of testing, and is now live in the BlackBerry App World. All the same new features are there, like a UI overhaul, new options for which route to path, access to historic traffic data, a larger, more driver-friendly “next maneuver” view, and quick links to previous searches for those regular destinations.
BlackBerry Traffic is a little different from your standard GPS navigation app in that it farms up traffic data from BlackBerry devices currently and previously on the road. Based on that info, BlackBerry Traffic figures out how busy the roads are, and offers turn-by-turn directions to wherever you’re going. This strategy is all part and parcel of RIM’s acquisition of Dash Navigation, which did the same thing for its PND devices, but didn’t work so well because there weren’t a lot of users to draw data from.
BlackBerry Traffic is a nice twist on the usual GPS navigation app, and when they’re offering it for free, it’s hard not to give it a shot, even if Google Maps for Mobile is readily available. Go ahead and download the updated version here in App World.
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
