Navigon MobileNavigator turns iPhone 3G into a car navigation device

When it comes to personal navigation, the game-changing event of the year may be Apple providing third-party access to the iPhone onboard GPS, thereby opening the door for companies big and small to seek new ways to enhance this slick convergence device. Navigon is aiming  to be the first to market with a true, full-featured GPS-based navigation app for the Apple iPhone.

Set to arrive later this month, MobileNavigator will provide turn-by-turn navigation on the iPhone 3G and upcoming iPhone 3G S running OS 3.0. Previously, the iPhone could only identify the user's location, displayed and tracked on a Google map. With MobileNavigator, the iPhone can provide routing guidance akin to purpose-built, portable navigators. (See our GPS Ratings and buying advice.)

Navigon announced last month that it would withdraw from selling portable navigators in the United States, though with this announcement, it clearly is not pulling out of the market entirely. Instead, it is shifting to being a software provider, both as a supplier to other manufacturers and to consumers via iPhone download. While we haven't used an iPhone with MobileNavigator, it sounds much like the company's portable devices, providing reality view, lane assistance, current speed, day/night mode, and ability to display points of interest along a route.

Tapping into the iPhone's innate abilities, MobileNavigator will switch from portrait to landscape views when the device is turned. It can also navigate to addresses stored as contacts. Navigation will pause during phone calls and resume once the call is completed.

MobileNavigator will be offered in two versions: The Lite format includes  maps and limited functionality, notably missing route guidance. The full version will mimic a traditional, portable car navigator. Prices will be released at launch.

TomTom also announced an iPhone navigation app at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, with a key difference being that they will offer a special mount with an integrated microphone and speaker. It is expected that this will add significantly to the cost, but it may help make the iPhone a more-worthy automotive navigation tool. We'll find out when we test these devices, after they go on sale. Together, these new iPhone offerings promise a formidable challenge to the long-promised Garmin Nuvi Phone.

—Jeff Bartlett

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.