There is a good chance that you’ve heard by now that Garmin is now offering Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry for a one time charge of $99.99 for the entire time you own your BlackBerry instead of the $10 per month fee that they used to charge.
To make a long story short, subscription based GPS service on your mobile phone sucks and Garmin finally figured that out. Most people that really need GPS bad enough to pay a monthly charge for it should go out and buy a dedicated GPS device that, quite, frankly, will be better than a phone with GPS.
Verizon would be smart to take this approach as well. As I’ve said before, I’d be willing to bet that more BlackBerry using Verizon subscribers would be willing to pay a one time fee for GPS than would the number willing to pay a recurring monthly fee.
As long as stupid Verizon users are willing to part with a monthly fee for Nav, Verizon will be more then happy to take it from them.
I dont think we can use this on VZW BB’s. Isn’t the GPS locked down?
Of course there will be a certain segment of the population with more money than brains. I think the point is that vzw might realize more revenue by changing their GPS model from subscription to a one time fee.
Personally, I would consider paying the one time fee. Wouldn’t ever pay for the subscription.
Couldn’t have said it better myself PD.
While I fall into the ‘money as opposed to brains’ category, I use the VZW navigator and like it. Sure, they get $10 a month from me, but considering the price of everything else going up out there, it’s worth it for me. But yes, I’d like them to unlock the GPS and give consumers options.
As for the one time subscribtion, it’s interesting. The BIG question is can I personally hold off from going to another model phone within a year so I can get a ROI on the subscription! 🙂
Interesting concept. As stated on the Garmin web site “With this purchase, download software directly to your BlackBerry for the lifetime of your device.” Lifetime of your device is the device in you hand. If you are like me and intend to upgrade from my Curve to a Bold that would mean I need to make another Lifetime purchase. From the Garmin EULA:”This One-Time Purchase subscription applies to only one (1) Device. During the first twelve (12) months of your subscription, if your original Device becomes non-operational you may be permitted, at Garmin’s sole discretion, to make a one-time transfer of the Garmin Mobile Application to another supported Blackberry Device. To make a request for such transfer, please contact the Garmin Customer Service department via http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/support/supportcontact. No transfers are permitted, for any reason, after twelve (12) months from the purchase of your subscription. Although software fixes, updates and patches are included in the One-Time Purchase, a free upgrade to the next version(s) of Garmin Mobile is not.”
Free, Unlimited and Lifetime aint what they used to be.
I used a demo version of the Garmin on my ATT 8310. Compared to Telenav (subscription at $10/month) it was much slower to re-route and would freq ask me to make a wrong turn. I thought I would love the Garmin. I didn’t make it through the 30 day period. On the telenv, I frequently set up favorites on the website, something that I was unable to do with the Garmin. That said, my company pays the tab.
The offer does indeed sound better than it given that the one time fee only covers the life of the unit…so when you upgrade you would have to pay a new fee.
My “one-time fee” was paid when I bought my 8330. The fact that I can’t use the GPS in my phone (that I paid for) is frustrating but there isn’t anything I can do about it.
SAAS providers who only charge a one time fee, vs. monthly recurrring, seldom survive very long.
I use VZW navigator and I don’t think others eraluxe how much of a benefit it is! Once you use it once you are hooked! I also don’t think that people realise you can add and remove the feature whenever you choose not to mention a previously made point that garmin won’t last very long and what happens when you get a new phone. That’s another 100 bucks out of your pocket! No deal…
Whether or not Garmin stays in business is moot, you would be buying the license from vzw and they’re not going anywhere. If you get a new phone every two years, you would save about $160 by purchasing a license instead of a subscription.
I, too, am very disapointed in VZ for locking down this device. It’s akin to locking down a WiFi modem on a new laptop unless you go with a wireless service. I paid for the device – ALL OF IT – including the GPS radio – and I deserve to use it. Period.
FTW.
I also tried the Garmin trial. Was very disappointed. The display was not good at all, and it often sent me in crazy directions. I uninstalled the trial and I’ll just pay for TeleNav. In my opinion, its great and has well displayed maps and navigation.
..or just download the mobile, gps-enabled version of Google Maps, for FREE and have a a better product that is completely free.