[Updated]Verizon Soon to Release Competent Competitor to Google Nav - VZ Navigator VX

[dgstorm]

[video=youtube;xRV8-u7adeQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRV8-u7adeQ&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Our sister-site, at Android.net, just found a surprising press release from Verizon about an upcoming Verizon created Navigation program that might actually give the venerable Google Nav some decent competition, at least in a few countries. It's called VZ Navigator VX and it packs some pretty incredible features if the video (above) and the press release can be believed. It does have one caveat though... it sports heavy 'Bing!' integration, and there is actually a subscription fee. I suppose whether Bing is good is relative, but it would be nice to have more choice in the matter, and I doubt people will be willing to swallow the $10 dollar per month subscription fee. Regardless, it will be good to have competition in the navigation market as it only spurs the evolution of the products. Let us know in the forums if this is something you would ever try out. Here's the full Press Release,

Verizon Wireless today announced VZ Navigator VX - the latest version of the company’s award-winning navigation service - is now available on select DROID™ smartphones, including DROID X by Motorola, DROID Incredible by HTC and the Samsung Fascinate™. Powered by TeleCommunication Systems, VZ Navigator VX is unlike any other navigation service offered today, providing customers with 3D navigation views using enhanced 3D city models and true-to-life images of highway and exit signs.

An evolution of ordinary direction services, the 3D capabilities of VZ Navigator VX are available in six cities at launch, including: Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Mo., New York, and Washington D.C., with more cities being added in 2011. The 3D city and road views add dimension to the turn-by-turn directions VZ Navigator VX offers. Other enhancements in the newest version include “real” signs and road views, satellite maps and day/night modes among other features.

“Verizon Wireless continues to add more to VZ Navigator, and VZ Navigator VX now gives our customers some of the most advanced mapping and navigation services available today,” said Kristi Crum, director, Consumer Solutions for Verizon Wireless. “Whether they are in a familiar place and need to get around more efficiently or exploring new territory in a car or on foot, customers can turn to VZ Navigator to get them where they want to go.”

VZ Navigator VX builds on existing location-based technology, including an easy-to-use interface, improved functionality for finding points of interest, the ability to run multiple VZ Navigator functions simultaneously within a navigation session and integration with Facebook®.

Customers can download VZ Navigator VX from the Android Market™. It is available for $9.99 a month for unlimited access, $4.99 for a weekly usage or $2.99 for a one-day/24-hour use. VZ Navigator VX is available initially on DROID X by Motorola, the Samsung Fascinate and the DROID Incredible by HTC with additional devices rolling out in 2011. Unlike traditional navigation devices that require annual upgrades to remain accurate, the monthly charge includes continuous updates to maps and points of interest. Download charges vary and airtime or megabyte charges may apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications.

TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) (Nasdaq: TSYS), is a leader in location-based technology whose mobile services empower consumers to make quick, smart decisions when they’re on the go. For more information about TCS products and services, visit TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) | Connections that Matter®.

Source: Verizon Wireless via Android.net

 

[Bilgediver]

Finally VZ Navigator has become relevant in the day and age of Google Navigation.

Still hard to compare free with $10 a month, but we'll see how it pans out....

 

[LT*]

I can't get by the free vs. 120.00 a year thing. VZ nav can't be THAT much better that Google nav to justify that price difference.

 

[Explosivpotato]

Who cares how well the buildings are rendered? Are you admiring the visuals while you're driving? I hope not!

All I care about is that it speaks turn-by-turn directions to me, in real time, and gets me where I'm going. Why would I pay 10$ per month when I can have all of that free and integrated into Android's voice search and google maps' address search?

 

[bazar6]

Who cares how well the buildings are rendered? Are you admiring the visuals while you're driving? I hope not!

All I care about is that it speaks turn-by-turn directions to me, in real time, and gets me where I'm going. Why would I pay 10$ per month when I can have all of that free and integrated into Android's voice search and google maps' address search?

Well said. I will buy an app from a good app dev because he made a better app than the other free ones, but this subscription bullsh*t VZW uses has got to go. Couple this stupid $10/mo for maps with the $10/mo for vCast, and they're laughing on the way to the bank.

 

[Jizzylax]

Why would I want to pay a monthly fee for this? $120 every year? I could buy a standalone GPS and not have a monthly fee. Or just use Google Maps for free.

I will pass. What a waste of time.

 

[noisufnoc]

Google Maps, I do not need or want VZNav

 

[New2u]

I'm just waiting for verizon to disable google nav on phones they offer. I'm hoping this is just an upgrade for phones that can't use google nav lol.

 

[s13_slider]

I'm just waiting for verizon to disable google nav on phones they offer. I'm hoping this is just an upgrade for phones that can't use google nav lol.

One would hope they took that route and used it solely on non-Android phones, but I have a feeling Android devices would be one of the key targets since it's exploding.

I have a bad feeling that they would disable google maps to make this option viable like you said, but hopefully the developer community will find a workaround if that happens as they have in the past.

 

[Jizzylax]

I'm just waiting for verizon to disable google nav on phones they offer. I'm hoping this is just an upgrade for phones that can't use google nav lol.

I'm sure Verizon disable Google Maps could be circumvented by rooting.

 

[New2u]

I'm just waiting for verizon to disable google nav on phones they offer. I'm hoping this is just an upgrade for phones that can't use google nav lol.

I'm sure Verizon disable Google Maps could be circumvented by rooting.

Yes that is true, but for the vast majority that don't root, if verizon went this route it could get annoying fast. Let's just hope they don't make that mistake, and they are more marketing it towards going against other navigation softwares.

 

[kodiak799]

Not to get everyone worked up, but I'm sure that app will take a lot of memory, and you can bet your bottom dollar it will be bloatware that can't be removed without root.

 

[OnMy2ndGP]

Google nav FTW! I can't see VZW disabling Google nav especially when the phones that they are selling currently have Google printed on them in partnership. They'd have a ton of explaining to do to Google. Not to mention a ton of $ to fork over. Surely their contract between each other cover such an event. If not, like Jazzy said, rooting would more than likely fix that. ;-)

 

[czerdrill]

I can't imagine why any one would want this.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[Guyute]

No way Google nav is great on my Droid X, why in the world would I want to pay $10 bucks a month.