Garminfone: Android smartphone with Garmin GPS Navigation

Garminfone is the result of the partnership between Garmin and T-Mobile USA, a project that was brewing for some time. The smartphone is a 3G device that uses Google’s Android 1.6 operating system, and offers all the features of a standalone Garmin navigation device.

Specification wise, the unit has a a full touch 3.5 inch high resolution display, memory of up to 32 GB thanks to microSD cards and a camera with a resolution of 3 megapixels, autofocus and flash. Considering the high data transfer of the smartphone, the use of the Wi-Fi connection and T-Mobile’s 3G network is more than welcomed. All the business features that transform an average handset in a serious and useful business device are also included, and we can mention the support for Microsoft’s Exchange mail, to contacts, appointments and calendar. Social networking fans can also rest easy because the Garminfone is a great tool to acces and manage Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or Hi5 accounts.

The fact that the phone has plenty of GPS functionality also explains the presence of a dashboard mount and a special charging window.

Out of the navigational features that the Garminfone has to offer we can mention the possibility to navigate to a place by simply clicking on the address from a link, photo geo tagging and many more.

Users get voice and text directions for walking, driving and public navigation and thanks to Garmin Voice Studio, an Android application, users can record their own custom directions to be shared with their friends. A detailed preinstalled map of North America will make sure that nobody gets lost even if the area has no phone coverage.

An extended set of application for travellers is also available, with real time data about traffic, gas prices, weather or local events. Those who tend to forget the exact place where they parked their car will no longer have to worry about that. Thanks to a feature that allows the smartphone to remember the location of the vehicle they will get directions that will guide them to the precise spot.

Garminfone will be available only in the United States and only to those who have a T-Mobile contract, at the end of the spring season.