Drift is the new device from Samsung that has been created exclusively for US mobile carrier Helio. Each device ($225) is coming pre-loaded with Google Maps for Mobile and is free to use for subscribers who pay for Helio's All-In Membership according to this ZDNet article. Built in GPS capabilities on the device come together with Google Maps for mobile features such as real-time traffic info, satellite mapping views, and driving directions. Check out more of the app's features here. Google describes the GPS capability from a post on the Google Blog: "..It's hard to enter a starting point if you don't know where you're starting from. We think that integrating GPS capabilities into Google Maps for Mobile will make our phones much smarter -- and you've told us that too. When you use Google Maps on the Helio Drift you always know where you are. Start Google Maps and a blue dot is placed on the map at your current location. You can even see yourself move on the map as you change location." Read a review here on the Helio Drift from Engadget. Read here to learn how to use a GPS with Google Maps for Mobile.
Other recent industry news for Google Maps for Mobile:
Nov. 7th/06: Leap Wireless Cricket service ships devices with Google Maps
Apr. 27th/06 BenQ Mobile Makes Google Maps Available to Users in Europe
Google Maps for Mobile timeline
Oct. 12/06: Palm Treo version launched - GMM post here.
Aug. 17/06: Google Earth KML files viewable on Maps for Mobile (More)
Jul. 25th/06: Live traffic for 30 US cities becomes available
Jan. 12th/06: Google Maps supported on the BlackBerry wireless platform
Nov. 6th/05: Google "Local" for Mobile launches
More: Google News, Technorati, Ask, GoogleBlogs
1 comment:
I have been using Google Local Mobile for the last year, both in the US, and in Italy, and always liked it a lot. When the newly renamed Google Maps for Mobile came out I went and installed it immediately. The new interface is better, but I was very disappointed by the lack of the call function in the popup detail. The single most important function in my opinion of an add-on to a mobile phone is that of an easy to access, well integrated call function, and Google Local had it. I used to call restaurants for reservations all the time, for example. There is no reason I can find why this is not there in the new version anymore!
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