The Android-powered Garminfone received 3.5 out of 5 stars from PC World magazine. Kudos was given throughout the review for different capabilities and features, but one of the many accolades is that it’s a good bang for the buck. “The Garminfone has the full functionality of a Garmin navigation device built in–plus all the advantages of an Android-based smartphone. In other words, it’s as good as any dedicated GPS device on the market, and it’s a better value than, say, buying a comparably priced Android phone and then paying another $100 for navigation software (which will lack the integration that Garmin has put into this phone).” 

PC World was also impressed with the navigation features, “side-by-side with Google’s free navigation service…the Garminfone was quicker and more accurate in showing the position of my vehicle. In comparison with other phone/navigation-software models, the Garminfone is better at picking up the GPS signal, something that Garmin’s designers say they worked hard to achieve.”

Want to learn more about the Garminfone? Visit our minisite, Twitter, Facebook, or you can get your own from T-Mobile in the US for $99.99 for existing customers and $129.99 for future customers.

The Garmin-Asus A50 is now available exclusively in Australia to Optus customers. The Optus-version of the Garmin-Asus A50 has some unique features such as voice-activated
124 ‘Yes’ local
search, Optus Video, preloaded social networking apps like Facebook,
Mobile TV and the Optus Games store. It’s also the first Garmin-Asus device to include Garmin’s new photoReal
Junction View, which shows you images of tricky highway exits and interchanges to give
drivers the best situational awareness available. The Garmin-Asus A10 is already available on the Optus network. Optus’ Mobile Dual Band network provides 3G services to over 96 percent of the Australian
population. 

Stateside, the Garminfone offered by T-Mobile continues to impress customers. A recent reviewer has said, “In addition to the usual smartphone features, the Garminfone offers
turn-by-turn satellite navigation with voice guidance. Rather than
seeming like a bit of an afterthought, as on phones from some other
companies, GPS performance is on a par with the company’s latest
dashboard-mounted units. Because of this, we’d seriously consider the Garminfone if we were in the market for a new
3G smartphone.”

 
Disclaimer: I’m in Rotterdam to promote Team Garmin and the Edge 500, yet my first day here was spent focusing on other Garmin products that simplify travel. OK, now that I have out of the way, I’m excited to send greetings from the host city of this year’s Grand Depart for pro cycling’s biggest race of the year. For the next month, the best cyclists in the world will race toward, through and around France for a spot on the podium in Paris. But getting here was so much fun that I have to tell you about it. I’ll get the bad news out of the way first. My flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was delayed nearly two hours. The silver lining: my Garminfone broke the news to me gently through the Flight Status updates.

Upon landing in Amsterdam, I let my ultrathin, pocket-friendly nüvi 3790T take over – first on the high-speed train, just to see the landscape around me as we pulled into Rotterdam – then on the walk from the station to my hotel, made easier through nüvi’s enhanced pedestrian navigation. Simply by supplementing my 3790T with European mapping on microSD, I was able to look up my hotel (even in Dutch!) and find my way there quickly on foot with a realistic ETA. And I wasn’t the only one ditching the cab for self-propelled transportation. There are crowded bike racks everywhere as residents ride constantly (even in sportcoats, skirts or heels) on dedicated paths. One bike caught my eye as it bore the familiar blue and orange colorings of Team Garmin – just without the aero bars and Edge 500.

My first day in Rotterdam wrapped up at a local KPN store, where they’ll be the first in the Netherlands to sell the Android-based Garmin-Asus nüvifone A10, a widely anticipated European smartphone with built-in Garmin navigation and points of interest. Joined by Dutch Garmin cyclists Michel Kreder and Ricardo van der Velde, I told the store how much their staff and our riders have in common as both excel through teamwork, training and technology. And we expect the staff to be busy these first couple days as we’ll be giving prizes away to people who demo or buy the A10 – including goodie bags, special edition CamelBak bottles and entries to win either an autographed jersey or a VIP trip to Stage 19 later this month in France. So yes, I’m thrilled about the excitement surrounding Garmin products in Rotterdam, and just wait until tomorrow when I actually talk about the Edge 500 and the argyle armada!

We’ve received today’s Ask Garmin question from a few different people, which makes us think that many people are enjoying spending time on the water this summer! “Does the new Garminfone support BlueCharts?   –Jim”

Great question. Although you can add our detailed marine charts, BlueChart, to the Garminfone, you should know that the BlueChart mapping on the Garminfone will function with limited compatibility. The Garminfone with BlueChart will give you access to basic information like shaded depth contours and navaids, but there are certain elements of BlueChart that were designed
for use on dedicated Marine GPS products and will not be
displayed on a Garminfone.

The Garminfone has been in stores for a little over two weeks and it continues to impress users with its integration and unique features. As the only Android smartphone to join Garmin’s tried-and-true navigation with Android’s OS and Android market, it’s a tough combination to beat. One of the many cool features on Garminfone is the free Garmin Voice Studio app that lets you record any voice for navigation. Whether you want to record your kid’s voice or a funny impersonation, Garminfone will walk you through 65 phrases so that you receive customized turn-by-turn directions. Watch the video to learn about other features that are unique to Garminfone.