We were watching the news this Morning, or at least I was because it was 5.30am and Mrs O was lying under a cover on the sofa, eyes closed - ready for an early start.

"A new, to science, 6 foot long lizard has been discovered in the Philippines" Intoned the overpaid news reader - and instantly there was a sarcastic comment from Mrs O.

"We know it as the `stir-fry lizard` and have done since before westerners arrived - it tastes of chicken"

Already on the map then -which is more than can be said for Nokia`s Navteq maps, which simply show Tacloban (Leyte Philippines) as a blob. While Google maps let you see the streets from overhead - as in a photograph.

Let there be no mistake here though, because it seems like a major battle is opening in the Sat Nav arena - with `regular` players of stand alone units about to become as rare as that Philippine lizard - before heading for extinction.

Google needs no expanation, it`s so well known, but it`s mapping needs data downloads as you drive along and one wonders at this point whether it`s seemingly class leading solution is not ahead of the infrastructure of the UK cellular networks capacity - or perhaps even pockets - requiring data plans (.Also seemingly not on S60 here)

It`s perhaps less well known that mobile phone company Nokia, bought Sat Nav software manufacturer - Navteq a while back and was offering it on some of their phones free - but charging for voice guidance.

It seems Google`s first moves with free Sat Nav on Android phones in the US, blew Nokias charging for voice model out of the water and they have been quick to offer their own solution.

At the time of writing you will find a list of phones on Nokia`s site that offer free voice guided Sat Nav - for life. (presumably that of the phone)

The cheapest option is the Nokia 5230 - and here are pre purchase considerations.

Three (3) network have a remarkable offer going on pay as you go sims, at the moment. At least for people like me who only really uses a mobile for family use and carrying for an emergency. That`s because all 3 to 3 calls are free and Mrs O and me spend a lot of time in touch on our `3` sims - at no cost.

Note that I said sims and not phones - because `3` sell the Nokia 5230 at £129 - while Car Phone Warehouse sell it at £99.95p + £10 top up in both cases.

Allegedly this is due to Europe wide buying power of CPW.

Which to buy? 3 staff told me i would need a data plan for the Nokia Sat nav to work and that their free Skype software would not work on non 3 handsets..(it proved to be not so) This free skype client runs on the 3 network, initially through their own servers - so a Skype client downloaded off the internet would rack up data charges.

The £29 cheaper Phone from Car Phone Warehouse is unlocked - a major consideration...

I bought a phone from Car Phone Warehouse and expored options.

First I downloaded the new voice maps from Nokia - then via their PC Suite - then maps for Europe, Africa, USA, Asia, Australia, New Zealand - are a free download.

I found Europe, Asia, Australia and parts of Africa fitted onto an 8GB memory card leaving about 1.7GB free space.

Now here`s the shock - It all runs (off line)really well on the phone. I clipped to phone onto a (high up)centre vent - with one of those clip on holders. It rapidly calculated routes - seemed faster all round (In particular at re-calculating) than that `major player` Sat Nav unit I bought last year.

You can just unclip it and pocket it too. I was surprised that you don`t actually need a television size wide-screen job obscuring the windscreen and that the `blue ribbon` style of 3D display on the phone gave better notice of turns hundreds of yards in front.

At £99.95 this has to be one of the best bargains around for a Sat Nav. But actually, it`s a phone of course with free calls on the 3 sim - and a very helpful woman in India - on the 3 network,helped me to download 3`s Skype software onto the non 3 phone.

This means that when the 3 months of free 3 to 3 calls expires on the pay as you go 3 sim - Mrs O and me can ring each other up on the Skype `free forever` system.

What with the `free forever` Skype on 3 and `free forever` -Nokia voice maps - there is surely more than a little `recalculating - recalculating` going on over at Google?

A little competition is wonderful for the consumer is it not?

No wonder Halfords were selling off some `stand alone` Sat Navs at half price this Easter.

Rather like those `new` lizards in the Philippines perhaps..

"Sizzling already" acording to Mrs O - and she should know!

oilrag

Edited by oilrag on 07/04/2010 at 09:27