London — Google has unveiled a free beta version of Google Maps turn-by-turn satellite navigation for users of some Android devices 1.6 and higher in the UK and Ireland, six months after it did so for its US customers. The new functionality was distributed in beta form on Wednesday. Residents of the U.K. and Ireland carrying Android phones need not wait for a 2.0 device to take advantage of the most useful element: turn-by-turn voice direction that reroutes you if you miss a turn. Google Maps Navigation can display traffic status and satellite or street views, and operates with voice commands. It will work on any device running version 1.6 or higher of the Android OS.
Speaking at a London launch event, Google mobile maps chief Steve Lee said Maps Navigation provided an “impressive 3D mapping experience”.
Lee accredited the staggering of the US and UK releases to “a number of issues that came up during development”, such as business and technical issues. He said one factor that had necessitated the later UK release was the relative popularity of roundabouts in road layouts.
Users can download Google’s beta mapping application on smartphones running version 1.6 or higher. Real-time data for the traffic routing service is disseminated over 3G, and can employ both a 3D maps view and StreetView mapping. Similar to the U.S., voice search is also included, and searches along the route to tell users where landmarks such as hotels, petrol stations and restaurants are situated along the route.
Google Maps with navigation for Ireland and the U.K. (Credit: Google)
When the user chooses a route for navigation, the service pre-caches the entire route, so it will not be disturbed by the intermittent dropping-out of data connectivity that usually comes with constant motion, Lee said.
Google’s objective here is to reduce the task of driving around. A post on the Google Mobile Blog explained: “Like other satnav devices, Navigation includes 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and automatic rerouting. But because Google Maps Navigation is connected to the Internet, it also features powerful functionality you can not get from other satnav services, including the most up to date map, business, and traffic data, access to satellite and street views, and of course, search.”
Google account holders may also incorporate their contacts through Gmail and with only a few simple clicks, navigation to a particular address can be activated.
The real-time traffic information with an indicator which glows either red, yellow or green based upon conditions. And Google Maps Navigation offers voice search, too, with a fine English accent provides directions, perhaps making the tool safer to use than some alternatives, though early users have described problems using an English accent for voice search with the device responding better to a faux American accent.
Lee said while Google was evaluating the possibility of letting users pre-load regional maps, “what is really important is keeping the experience really simple for users”.
“We do not think mainstream users will side-load [regional maps],” Lee said.
Of course, this rollout is not exactly huge. However, comparing with similar apps for the iPhone, Google Maps Navigation comes cheap. Apple iPhone GPS navigation apps cost between 15.34 U.S. dollars and 84.49 dollars. A custom-made satnav specific device can cost anything upwards of 70 dollars, though there are usually no additional costs. However Google’s new app is likely to rattle manufacturers such as TomTom and Garmin.