In case you’re one of not-that-many people who own the Garmin-Asus nuvifone M20, here’s a piece of good news for you. The company (or that’s two companies) released the official Windows Mobile 6.5 updated for your navigation-friendly device.
The update is already available in some countries whereas others will get it by the end of the year. We strongly suggest you to visit Garmin-Asus’ website and search for the latest firmware. Prior to pushing any “Update” buttons, make sure to backup your data. Once that is cleared, get set for the revamped UI that comes with latest version of Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s mobile OS, along with improved Pocket Internet Explorer, and access to Microsoft MyPhone and Windows Marketplace.
As a reminder, the nuvifone M20 comes with a VGA touchscreen, HSDPA connectivity, GPS, WiFi, 3.2-megapixel camera, and so on.
The last we heard from asus about their Android handset was that it would be available in early 2010; according to a recent interview, however, they’re now aiming for before the end of the year. We can only presume that it will be under the nüvifone brand, which recently made its ho-hum debut on AT&T. When I talked to the Garmin-asusback in the Spring, they were sounding pretty confident about Android, so hopefully the new OS will inject some life into their navigation-focused smartphone lineup. Between Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE), and now Garmin-asus, the Android scene is getting very busy… Despite the competition, I’m curious what they manage to do in the way of GPS-based home screen widgets.
After meandering the Asian world, Garmin-asus is bringing their nüvifone brand to North America on October 4 care of AT&T (NYSE: T); that $299.99 pricetag rumour was dead on. The G60 nüvifone runs on Linux, rocks a 272 x 480 WQVGA touchscreen, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, 2.5 mm headphone jack (boo), and true to Garmin’s DNA, it’s big on GPS navigation and services. This will be the only Linux phone to come out of Garmin-asus, as they’ll be switching to Android and Windows Mobile exclusively for future handsets. The M20 is currently their Windows Mobile offering, but we’ll have to wait and see if it ever finds its way to this side of the pond. If you’d like to take a closer look, I tried out the G60 in Barcelona earlier this year, or you can scope out the information page.
Along with release dates for other handsets in their Windows Mobile lineup, price points for the nüvifone G60, HTC Touch Pro2 (to be branded as the Tilt 2), and the Touch Diamond2 (branded Pure). The Tilt 2 will run you $299.99, $499.99 off contract; the Pure $149.99, $349.99 off contract; finally, the Garmin-asus nüvifone G60, of which we’ve heard little since its July launch in Asia, will be available for $299.99/$549.99. Release dates are still pretty hazy for most of them (except the The Tilt 2, which is probably rolling in on the 18th.), but late October is the best guess with the given info.
After a long road, Garmin-Asus are now bringing their navigation-focused handsets, the G60 and M20, to a bunch of oriental countries this summer. The Windows Mobile 6.1-packing M20 will be available in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia in August, but the Linux-powered G60 will be available in Taiwan in just three days, while hitting Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. Europeans can look forward to the nüvifone in the second half of 2009.
Most of the specs are widely known, but here’s a quick recap:
nüvifone M20
Tri-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 900/1800/1900
900/2100 HSPA 7.2 Mbps
802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, mini USB 2.0
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (Upgradeable to WM 6.5)
3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging
95.3 x 52.5 x 12.8 mm
2.8″, 65K, TFT with touch lens
Push / Enterprise / POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP
OPERA browser, HTML, WAP 1.2.1/2.0
SMS / MMS / IM
3G: Up to 3.5 hours / 2G: Up to 2.8 hours talk time
Garmin-Asus have pledged to have an Android handset available before the end of the year, which should be a fruitful move for the young handset brand. Although we were expecting a launch in the Asian area, it’s a little disappointing that we won’t be able to give either of these new handsets a shot in North America for awhile longer. Maybe that Android one will come our way…
The Nuvifone G60 and M20 navigation-oriented smartphones have been delayed time and time again, but it seems the Garmin-ASUS duo is still intent on launching the devices before the end of the decade. In fact, if the latest rumblings along the mobile grapevine pan out, we’ll see Garmin-ASUS launching the Nuvifone G60 and Nuvifone M20 in Malaysia within the next 30 days!
The Nuvifone G60 is the bigger of the two Nuvifones. We’ll likely see it launching next month with a 3.55-inch touchscreen, GPS (of course), WiFi, 3G data connectivity, 3-megapixel camera and 4GB of on-board storage.The G60’s Linux-based OS struck us as both intuitive and speedy, but we’d have liked to have seen the G60 running Android.
For the Windows Mobile set, the Nuvifone M20 will bring its 2.8-inch touchscreen, GPS, WiFi, 3G, 3-megapixel camera and 4GB/8GB of built-in memory to the table. It’s smaller than the G60, but it’s also arguably more comfortable in the hand. Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional runs the show, but we won’t hold that against the M20.
Keep an eye out for a near-term launch of the Garmin-ASUS Nuvifone M20!
Everyone’s still tapping their toe, waiting for the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20 and G60, and the official line is that we’ll be seeing the GPS-centric smartphones before the end of the year and that Android was in the cards for future devices. Well, it looks like the G60 will be the one and only Linux-running nüvifone, as Garmin-Asus has gone on the line and said the Android and Windows Mobile baskets are where they’re putting all of their eggs from here on in. Considering Android itself is Linux-based, it will be interesting to see how or if it will replace Linux as a mobile OS. Android still has the publicity, and if one of Linux’s few selling points is a low cost (an area in which Android gleefully competes), we may be seeing more manufacturers making similar transitions in the near future.
Garmin had promised their Android phone would arrive in 2009 before, but considering their first announcements, the G60 and M20, had been delayed since then, it would have been reasonable to presume the Android schedule would have been kicked back. Not so, apparently – Jacqueline Yang, Asustek VP of Marketing, confirmed the Android nuvifone would be out before the first quarter of 2010. When I talked to the Garmin-Asus boys back at MWC about their navigation-focused handsets, they sounded fairly sure about Android, but the big question remained “when?” If the G60 and the Windows Mobile M20 can come out this summer, then an Android follow-up for Christmas could happen, but considering the pace at which things have been going so far, it sounds like a long shot.
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised after plenty of earlier delays, but during a conference call, Garmin admitted that their two smartphones won’t make it until the second half of this year; the last rumour we had heard of a release date pointed to June, which sits dab-smack at the midpoint, but it’s easy to imagine that window widening into Q4 or even 2010.
This is yet another blow to the Garmin and ASUS’ nüvifone momentum, but focused location awareness is a niche few other manufacturers have chosen to tackle (the HTC Touch Cruise is the only handset that immediately jumps to mind), so perhaps they can actually afford to wait and make they get they get the job done right. Even if the launch of the Windows Mobile M20 and Linux G60 is only mediocre, there remains promise in an Android handset down the line, and after playing around with the handsets up to this point, I think an Android version will really hit the spot.
Garmin and ASUS have been hard at work on their nuvifone lineup. The Garmin-ASUS nuvifone M20 was recently launched as a slim GPS-centric smartphone powered by the Windows Mobile platform. But, the duo’s new-found smartphone aspirations don’t stop there. Garming-ASUS are putting the finishing touches on the bigger, and arguably better, nuvifone G60. And, rumor now has the Linux-powered nuvifone G60 launching in June!
The nuvifone G60 is actually the original nuvifone that Garmin announced way back in 2007. Garmin and ASUS have apparently needed the time to iron out all the kinks with its Linux-powered GPS-phone. But, according to an inside source, the nuvifone G60 should finally see the light of day in June. With a 3.55-inch touchscreen, 3G (HSDPA) connectivity, WiFi and GPS the nuvifone G60 will be a handset to watch.
The last we heard from 
Along with 
