Mobile-phone users who want directions are in for a treat in October. AT&T has been given the exclusive rights to sell Garmin’s new nuvifone G60 mobile device.
Beginning Oct. 4, AT&T will have the exclusive rights to sell Garmin’s new GPS-equipped smartphone, Garmin International and AT&T announced Tuesday.
Because of the exclusive arrangement, the nuvifone G60 will only be available with a two-year service agreement. It will cost $399 and come with a $100 mail-in-rebate at AT&T retail stores and through its Web site.
Garmin and AT&T are also encouraging users to activate the Premium Connected Services, which includes traffic updates, white pages, weather, movies and local events. It costs $5.99 a month after a 30-day trial ends.
“Personal navigation devices are already all about mobility, and taking the Garmin experience everywhere as your mobile phone is truly compelling for customers who travel often,” said Michael Woodward, a vice president at AT&T. “We expect the nuvifone to be the guide for local restaurants, the least-expensive gas, and the nearest coffee shop for many customers.”
Aside from the phone’s core Garmin GPS navigation and preloaded maps, the nuvifone also includes a large touchscreen display, Web browsing, Gmail, a three-megapixel autofocus camera, e-mail and text messaging, and Bluetooth capability. The device uses a Linux-based operating system.
Whether mounted or portable, the device gives turn-by-turn voice directions. It also gives users information on road conditions, combining Garmin’s HotFix technology with its receiver.
“The nuvifone has Garmin’s easy-to-use interface, so navigating to a meeting directly from its calendar or contacts pages, or geotagging an e-mail or photograph with a location stamp, is intuitive, useful and fun,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO.
If a user is lost and needs information on the closest hospital or gas station, nuvifone’s “Where Am I?” feature provides answers to what the user…