From the NY Times:
“MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In a move that is likely to be seen as an attack on yet another industry, Google on Wednesday introduced a free navigation system for mobile phones that offers turn-by-turn directions.”
The new version of Google Maps for mobile phones will be released with a new turn-by-turn directions feature that may put them in direct competition with companies like TomTom and Garmin, whose devices dominate the GPS gadget market for the time being. What will the new app cost? Absolutely nothing for the consumer, it will still be a free service like most of Google’s offerings. Is Google worried?
“After the briefing, Mr. Schmidt said he was not concerned that the new service would create new enemies for Google. ‘As long as you are on the side of consumers, you’ll be fine,’ he said.”
TomTom released an app for the iPhone recently that debuted at $100, according to the article. That’s just ridiculous – one hundred bucks for an iPhone app? That’s only going to reach a few customers – but I can see how they’d be afraid a cheap app would discourage iPhone owners from purchasing a regular TomTom device for their vehicle. Will the new Google Maps application make it to the App Store? I don’t see Apple easily letting it go by without serious scrutiny, but at the same time – my friend Nathan brought up a good point, that Apple has often released built-in software that killed off need for paid apps, so why not? Unless Apple signed a non-compete with TomTom, I can see Google Maps not only making it to the App Store but sending TomTom into obsolescence.
Would you pay $100 for a TomTom app for your iPhone? If you haven’t already, would you jailbreak your iPhone to get the new features?