AT&T Unleashes Turn-by-Turn GPS App

[JonBean]

Taxes?

Anyone who has looked closely at their AT&T bill will see a truckload of tax added to the monthly tab. This is where $10 is not $10, but more like $13. A small 3 1/2 screen on a Tom Tom or Garmin would cost about the same over the first year (street price or Costco) and that's it. And, if you buy it on the internet you'll save the sales tax. I love my iPhone and some folks say I sleep with it, but there's a limit to this affair. The larger screen is cheaper and easier to use. Screw AT&T.

Steve L

 

[andrewsd]

Navigon

I love my navigon app that I use while in germay. That AT&T app looks like a rip off. Plus I sure hope it is better then there navigation apps on there other phones cause I messed with one and it was bad

 

[b1wils1]

Just check how much Garmin charges if you want to update your maps on your old GPS. It is a ripoff. You pay almost as much as a brand new GPS.

or you can use bittorrent and get the updates yourself...free.

 

[thecypher]

Anyone who has looked closely at their AT&T bill will see a truckload of tax added to the monthly tab. This is where $10 is not $10, but more like $13. A small 3 1/2 screen on a Tom Tom or Garmin would cost about the same over the first year (street price or Costco) and that's it. And, if you buy it on the internet you'll save the sales tax. I love my iPhone and some folks say I sleep with it, but there's a limit to this affair. The larger screen is cheaper and easier to use. Screw AT&T.

Steve L

Dude first of all it is $10.73 to be exact. I just checked at http://www.att.com/directbill

Sure you can buy a small screen TomTom for $120-$150. But then after a year you pay another $80 to get updated maps and POI Database. And you don't get traffic based navigation which is a key for a lot of people. If you are never going to buy map updates and stick with what came with the device for 3 to 4 years and don't need traffic based navigation (which is very important to me) and don't mind carrying yet another device then sure it makes no sense to pay $10 a month for this service. But you can't really compare the 2. It is apples and oranges. Garmin charges a monthly service charge for traffic based navigation also even when you purchase their device.

If you get don't like AT&T get on Verizon. Not only is their service more expensive they don't give you this stuff for free either. Then you can complain about Verizon. In fact no carrier does. Everybody charges $10 a month for this. So I really don't get it when people bitch and moan about paying money for a service. Do you work for free?? If you don't like/want the service don't buy it. Don't slam it because it costs money. That is senseless.

 

[thecypher]

or you can use bittorrent and get the updates yourself...free.

That is stealing. Sure you can steal anything for free (at least till you get caught). Looks like most people who are bitching here about paying $10 a month for a service belong to this category. These are people who are not used to paying for software, music, movies etc. Makes sense.

 

[bbplayer5]

Dude first of all it is $10.73 to be exact. I just checked at http://www.att.com/directbill

Sure you can buy a small screen TomTom for $120-$150. But then after a year you pay another $80 to get updated maps and POI Database. And you don't get traffic based navigation which is a key for a lot of people. If you are never going to buy map updates and stick with what came with the device for 3 to 4 years and don't need traffic based navigation (which is very important to me) and don't mind carrying yet another device then sure it makes no sense to pay $10 a month for this service. But you can't really compare the 2. It is apples and oranges. Garmin charges a monthly service charge for traffic based navigation also even when you purchase their device.

If you get don't like AT&T get on Verizon. Not only is their service more expensive they don't give you this stuff for free either. Then you can complain about Verizon. In fact no carrier does. Everybody charges $10 a month for this. So I really don't get it when people bitch and moan about paying money for a service. Do you work for free?? If you don't like/want the service don't buy it. Don't slam it because it costs money. That is senseless.

Every carrier might charge that much, but do any other characters have an app with the maps built in like the iphone does?

 

[aristokrat]

I don't understand how these companies expect to compete at these price points when the maps application offers good enough navigation with constantly updated maps for free? I've successfully navigated many places using Maps, and I don't feel like I NEED an alternative, unless it was cheap.

 

[SpaceKitty]

Can you believe they pushed out this app with no contacts or iPod integration. So here is the deal. If you are using AT&T Navigator (Telenav) on the iphone and you have an address in your contacts. Tough. Unless you cut and paste you cannot access that information. So while you are pondering that thought ponder this. If you have say 1000's of dollars worth of music on your iPhone too bad you can't listen to it in the car while driving because there is no iPod integration. Even your lame friends at Gokivo figured out how to do that one. Unbelievable. Shame on you Telenav. Shame on you.

You can play music while using this app.

 

[thecypher]

Every carrier might charge that much, but do any other characters have an app with the maps built in like the iphone does?

I don't think AT&T controls whether google will provide turn by turn voice direction application for free or not. Google can enable this in their maps application tomorrow if they want to and then who would pay for any GPS software? I sure won't. I don't think it is that simple. There are probably huge licensing fees involved. I am sure it will cost google a lot of money to give this functionality away for free. Otherwise they probably would have done that by now. Google maps also uses the data connection for maps. The maps are not stored locally.

 

[thecypher]

I don't understand how these companies expect to compete at these price points when the maps application offers good enough navigation with constantly updated maps for free? I've successfully navigated many places using Maps, and I don't feel like I NEED an alternative, unless it was cheap.

I have used it too but it is very hard to use it while driving. You have to constantly look at the screen and watch for that blue dot that shows where you are. Keep scrolling the map manually. Make sure the screen doesn't switch off. Too much hassle. It works if you want do a quick lookup of something. Far too dangerous to use while driving in my experience.

 

[severe]

Though the real-time traffic updates are a plus, there's no way I'd pay for this.

Considering how AT&T has drug many of us through the mud with their BS data plans, etc, etc, I'm not willing to give this company another dollar for any service. I'm looking forward to leaving them behind some day.

 

[convergent]

Its seems like many of the people posting in this thread are unaware that this application is nothing new, and its not unique to AT&T. Most of the cellphone companies offer the subscription navigation programs on nearly all their phones, and the majority are all using the same basic backend system.

The cost of the subscription service option is not really that much different than the historical cost of buying and updating a separate application. Most of the navigation programs on the other platforms like Windows Mobile have run about $100, and typically it costs you about that per year to keep the maps updated. So not that different from $10/month to have constantly updated maps.

I've not use this on an iPhone, but I've reviewed the same service on other platforms. There are pros and cons just like with anything else. For one thing, the footprint on the device is much smaller, so it helps a lot if you are cramped for space. It also does not use a tremendous amount of bandwidth to work, as some have suggested, because its not downloading massive maps... its downloading just small maplets that it ties together as you go. You can log into their online system and find and save parts of trips... planning before you get into the device. Because its doing the route planning on its remote server, that has some advantages as well. Likewise, its points of interest in theory is infinitely bigger and more up to date than anything downloaded. And, its simple for them to include things like "find the cheapest gas" types of things.

I found many times when I preferred this type of navigation program, and many times when I didn't. The biggest negative to me is not the cost, because I plan to buy an annual update to keep my other program current, but rather the fact that without a data connection it will not work. This to me is a limitation in some places you might travel, but not all.

 

[thecypher]

Though the real-time traffic updates are a plus, there's no way I'd pay for this.

Considering how AT&T has drug many of us through the mud with their BS data plans, etc, etc, I'm not willing to give this company another dollar for any service. I'm looking forward to leaving them behind some day.

As much as I hate giving any large corporation my money, they are all the same at the end of the day. I was on Verizon for many many years. I have tried Sprint and T-Mobile for short periods of time (couldn't have gotten out any faster) and they all suck equally. Everybody wants your money at the end of the day. Most times we pay out of no option like the cable company and rarely we pay because we feel we are getting something worthwhile.

 

[southernpaws]

of all the companies I might consider paying an additional monthly fee to, ATT is not one of them.

Cell phone service is a necessary evil...but I'm not a masochist

 

[thecypher]

Its seems like many of the people posting in this thread are unaware that this application is nothing new, and its not unique to AT&T. Most of the cellphone companies offer the subscription navigation programs on nearly all their phones, and the majority are all using the same basic backend system.

The cost of the subscription service option is not really that much different than the historical cost of buying and updating a separate application. Most of the navigation programs on the other platforms like Windows Mobile have run about $100, and typically it costs you about that per year to keep the maps updated. So not that different from $10/month to have constantly updated maps.

I've not use this on an iPhone, but I've reviewed the same service on other platforms. There are pros and cons just like with anything else. For one thing, the footprint on the device is much smaller, so it helps a lot if you are cramped for space. It also does not use a tremendous amount of bandwidth to work, as some have suggested, because its not downloading massive maps... its downloading just small maplets that it ties together as you go. You can log into their online system and find and save parts of trips... planning before you get into the device. Because its doing the route planning on its remote server, that has some advantages as well. Likewise, its points of interest in theory is infinitely bigger and more up to date than anything downloaded. And, its simple for them to include things like "find the cheapest gas" types of things.

I found many times when I preferred this type of navigation program, and many times when I didn't. The biggest negative to me is not the cost, because I plan to buy an annual update to keep my other program current, but rather the fact that without a data connection it will not work. This to me is a limitation in some places you might travel, but not all.

Very well said!!

 

[thecypher]

of all the companies I might consider paying an additional monthly fee to, ATT is not one of them.

Cell phone service is a necessary evil...but I'm not a masochist

Trust me I feel the same about my cable company. You can't live without it (although a small minority may disagree) and if you want it you pay way more than you think it is worth the 4 or 5 channels you ever watch out of the gazillion they give you and charge you a fortune. It is all a big game about how to setup the tiered plans so people have to switch to the next level if they want to get that one channel they really want. Same thing with wireless service.

 

[amusedchimp]

This is too expensive and seems redundant to boot.

I love my Nuvi.
It lives in my car.
It works well
It's minimally distracive
Its paid for.

Iphone maps works great when I'm walking.

 

[Blue Fox]

Its not whining, its called calling them out on their blunder.

No, it is whining. They're offering a service for you to either take or NOT take. Your choice. Don't want it, don't get it. It's as simple as that.

I think it's a great idea personally. Since I live in a smaller city, I have no need for GPS. But when I take a trip, I would like one. It would be foolish to pay for a Garmin or TomTom that I only use a couple of weeks out of the year....AND have to pay to update each year......So for me, this is great. I pay $9.99 for the month, and get GPS for when I need it, and cancel it when I don't. Brilliant!

Just because it doesn't fit YOUR specifications, doesn't mean other people won't find it to be perfect for them.

 

[severe]

As much as I hate giving any large corporation my money, they are all the same at the end of the day. I was on Verizon for many many years. I have tried Sprint and T-Mobile for short periods of time (couldn't have gotten out any faster) and they all suck equally. Everybody wants your money at the end of the day. Most times we pay out of no option like the cable company and rarely we pay because we feel we are getting something worthwhile.

• A 3G service that wasn't ready for prime time at launch
• No tiered data plans (many of us use about 300MB per mo. on average)
• Crippling/Throttling their "unlimited" data plan
• No Tethering
• No MMS
• Etc

 

[JonB3Z]

Useful for now

This actually fills a gap, I think. Until there is a good self-contained (not reliant on the network) app available at a suitable price, a $10/month app that you can cancel at any time will serve. And while it isn't as full-featured as a stand-alone GPS, it seems to work just fine.

The italics above are because AFAIK, nobody yet knows what the TomTom app will run, nor whether it will require the TomTom cradle, or what that will cost. I'm not counting those particular chickens until they are hatched.

 

[Blue Fox]

• A 3G service that wasn't ready for prime time at launch
• No tiered data plans (many of us use about 300MB per mo. on average)
• Crippling/Throttling their "unlimited" data plan
• No Tethering
• No MMS
• Etc

- My 3G worked fine at launch.
- Data Plan is a data plan. Most other companies don't offer tiered data plans either for their smart phones.
- I would be surprised if ANYONE has even come close to the limit under normal use (NOT hacked and tethered illegally)
- Tethering is on it's way.
- MMS is on by the end of summer.
- What Etc?

 

[severe]

- My 3G worked fine at launch.
- Data Plan is a data plan. Most other companies don't offer tiered data plans either for their smart phones.
- I would be surprised if ANYONE has even come close to the limit under normal use (NOT hacked and tethered illegally)
- Tethering is on it's way.
- MMS is on by the end of summer.
- What Etc?

So no tiered plan option and limiting (per app) the bandwidth that can be used is fine with you. Great. But not me. When I'm told my $$ is good for an unlimited plan, I expect unlimited service.

MMS and tethering have been missing for 2 years!

"What Etc?"? ...read on, Newb.

 

[johnntd]

Garmin Lifetime Support

FYI,
I have garmin nuvi 780 which I paid for about $250 recently. The lifetime update for its map costs me $70. Lifetime traffic report costs $140 or so.

Dude first of all it is $10.73 to be exact. I just checked at http://www.att.com/directbill

Sure you can buy a small screen TomTom for $120-$150. But then after a year you pay another $80 to get updated maps and POI Database. And you don't get traffic based navigation which is a key for a lot of people. If you are never going to buy map updates and stick with what came with the device for 3 to 4 years and don't need traffic based navigation (which is very important to me) and don't mind carrying yet another device then sure it makes no sense to pay $10 a month for this service. But you can't really compare the 2. It is apples and oranges. Garmin charges a monthly service charge for traffic based navigation also even when you purchase their device.

If you get don't like AT&T get on Verizon. Not only is their service more expensive they don't give you this stuff for free either. Then you can complain about Verizon. In fact no carrier does. Everybody charges $10 a month for this. So I really don't get it when people bitch and moan about paying money for a service. Do you work for free?? If you don't like/want the service don't buy it. Don't slam it because it costs money. That is senseless.

 

[cliffrouse11bas]

This is free with my monthly subscription with my Pre with Sprint.

 

[optophobia]

TomTom. If you are reading this thread, take note.

I personally will buy your app UNSEEN for $99 IF :

1 - the maps are loaded ONTO the iPhone, therefore NO data needed.
2 - there is no subscription service.

I don't mind paying $10 for updates once in a while either.