Garmin is planning to release a device, Garminfone, that will be built for the Android system so that the phone will have Google’s fast-growing catalog of new applications. Garmin which made a name for itself in the GPS devices market and has been busy expanding its name in the cell phones market as well by manufacturing phones with GPS services. Now Garmin intends on continuing the legacy with the help of Google.

As a matter of fact, Garmin recently released a device based on the Android operating system combined with the navigation power. The Garminfone feature several nice applications such as applications for social networking standards, easy access to mails, easy access to Facebook and YouTube. The phone has several features ala GPS such as it will direct you back to where you parked your car, document where you took photos with the gadget, and retrieve addresses from an e-mail or calendar.

Garmin did not release that many details concerning this phone but they did say that the phone will be available through T-Mobile this spring.

The Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 is a navigation phone that combines the functions of a smartphone and a GPS navigator into one device. The GPS navigator is fully integrated into the phone and is not just an application as it allows users to continue using the GPS navigation system while accessing other phone applications. It has a 3-megapixel geo-tagging camera. It also features Ciao! location-based social tool. It was announced in June 2009 and soon released later on in the same year. It is compatible with network frequencies including GSM/ GPRS/ Edge of 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz, and 3G UMTS/ HSDPA 850/ 1900/ 2100 MHz. This phone comes with a 3.5″ touchscreen display. There is also a WQVGA display that has a resolution of 272 x 480 pixels. It comes with an internal memory space of 4GB on-board 128 MB RAM. It also features a memory slot for microSD that supports cards of up to 16GB. It has a Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery that comes with a 250 hours of standby time and 240 hours of talktime.

Specifications
Design
The Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 measures 4.4 in x 2.3 in x 0.57 in (H x W x D) and weighs approximately 4.8 oz including its provided battery. It measures 112 x 58.1 x 14.6 and weighs 137g.

Display
It features a 3.5-in screen with a resolution of 272 x 480 pixels. It is an anti-glare resistive touchscreen. The screen also features 65K colors. It has a built-in accelerometer.

Camera
There is also a built-in 3-megapixel camera with auto-focus and geotagging functions.

Power
The Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 operates on a removable and rechargeable lithium cell that has a capacity of 1200 mAh. It can provide up to 4 hours of talk time and can last up to 250 hours when put on standby.

Networks
It supports the following network, GSM 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 and UMTS 850/1900/2100 GHz. It comes with HSDPA 3G plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Connections
For connectivity purposes, there’s a standard USB port featured on the phone. There’s a 2.5mm jack that can be used to plug in your headphone.

Memory
In terms of memory, the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 has a capacity of 4 GB of on-board storage. There is also an expansion slot that is compatible with microSD cards with support for expansion up to 16 GB as well as HC capabilities.

Media
It also has an embedded music player that can perform MP3 audio playback. There is also a 2.5 mm headphone jack for private listening as well as handsfree functions. There a rear speaker that will speak out when using the GPS application to guide you on the road.

Phone Features
It also comes with pre-loaded maps of your region such as for North Amera or Europe. Its phonebook can store up to a maximum of 5000 contacts. In this GPS-Phone, there are information provided for movies, weather, flight status, converter, Yellow Pages, local events, fuel prices and Ciao! and a location-based social networking platform.

Other Features
Software included in the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 is the full navigation suite that will help guide its users to their destination.

Reviews

“Honestly, you probably know already if the nüvifone G60 is right for you or not. At $299 on contract, you’ve got a lot of smartphone options, and unless navigation is your number one priority, almost any of them are superior to this. This phone just isn’t a smartphone; it’s an amazing navigation machine that makes calls and attempts to browse the web / dabble in integrated apps. That said, AT&T’s still going to ding you for $30 per month as it sucks down data whilst routing — even though the maps are all installed on the unit’s internal storage. At the end of the day, it’s hard to recommend the G60 due to the simple economics of the situation. For $299, you can pick up an iPhone 3G or HTC Hero (amongst other options) and a darn good nüvi PND that operates sans a monthly contract. Heck, you might even come out with a few bucks to spare. If you just have to have your GPS device and phone in one, the G60 is bound to impress the hardcore road warriors — just don’t expect that glee to come cheaply.” (Engadget, 2009)