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new rumor suggests that Google Maps for Mobile will be getting full, offline navigation by this summer. Is that TomTom we hear crying?
The Navigation feature in Google Maps on Android is quietly a killer feature of the platform. This provides you with free audible, turn-by-turn directions. I don’t even drive on a daily basis but it’s been a godsend to have this navigation option when I’m visiting a new city.
The only problem with the Google Maps Navigation feature is that you need to have a data connection for it to work properly. Yes, there’s some form of caching but there’s nothing worse than having your directions cut out when you hit a dead spot, especially if you’re in unfamiliar territoriality.
It’s unclear how robust the features of offline navigation would be in Google Maps but it is rumored to come as a software update by the summer. Your phone would still have to have the data on it, so this could present an opportunity for a next-generation Nuvifone.
Even if this feature doesn’t come, it’s clear that Google Maps will only continue to improve, especially for Android. This morning, we saw it receive live public transit updates and I’d expect it to never stop adding features.
[Via All About Phones]