Whereis navigates on Android
Filed under: Android, business, customers, GPS, lifestyle, mobile handsets, mobile internet, mobile phone, Next G™, smart phone
We recently launched our first Whereis® Navigator app built specially for Google Android smartphones like the HTC Desire and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.
It provides an incredibly comprehensive turn-by-turn GPS navigation service that matches the best in-car solutions[1]. In fact it incorporates technology from in-car navigation leader Garmin with up-to-date map data served up over the Telstra Next G™ network[2].
There are some really handy features making their debut on our Android version of Whereis® Navigator. Mario Davoli takes you through these in our video walk through or you can read on.
First, there’s a new speed alert feature which is designed to help customers stay within legal speed limits. It compares regularly-updated speed limit info for major roads with GPS data that calculates a driver’s speed. Audio cues then warn the driver if they are exceeding the speed limit.
We’ve also added a Pedestrian Mode which provides the most direct routes for people travelling on foot. It considers geographic features like street crossings, overpasses and footpaths to arrive at the fastest walking routes.
The new app also comes with a flight timetable service. With it, customers can check the arrival and departure times of flight numbers at all major airports across Australia — great for business travelers and holiday makers.
The app also leverages the Android operating system’s open nature to perform some integrated tricks. For example:
- The app can integrate with Android’s voice recognition software, allowing customers to perform voice searches for Yellow Pages® listings and nearby points of interests.
- Customers can save links to their mobile home screen that, when selected, launch Whereis® Navigator and automatically direct them to a favourite destination.”[1]
These all-new features are available alongside the existing suite of features that have made Whereis® Navigator a popular choice. This include turn-by-turn spoken and visual directions, spoken street names, lane guidance, automatically updated maps, weather forecasts, traffic incident alerts and nearby fuel prices.
More info and free trial details
Whereis® Navigator is available on selected smartphones running on the Telstra Next G™ network.
Telstra Next G™ subscribers with compatible handsets can try the service through a free, 7-day trial of Whereis® Navigator’s premium GPS features. Mobile data used in the free trial and the subscription service is unmetered.
Visit here for more information on Whereis Navigator, including pricing.
Is there a non-premium service available? One with an upfront payment that offers turn-by-turn navigation, like CoPilot for example.
$15 per month is waaaay too much for this service. I tried the trial and software is good (but no better than others I have tried), but it will flop since only those using it all the time would agree to the pricing. I have uninstalled.
This should be a free service to Telstra customers.
Much to my Dismay, the majority of handsets dont have “offline” built in maps.. Unless you have constant 3g network coverage, the bolt on applications like Google Maps etc, just wont work outside coverage areas.. I do a lot of Regional Travelling and thats why i use offline maps, like the OVI maps which are free in some of the Nokia Handsets.
Garmin Nuviphone is another and i think maybe some Motorola Phones have offline Australian Maps..
Could Telstra be in a position to offer such like ?
I’m surprised this isnt free. Most advanced handsets now have GPS in them, so the software can be installed quite easily, and run for free.
When I was living in the UK, I had the TMobile MDA Compact 3, and it came with CoPilot, regardless if you had a plan or went pay as you go.
It was absolutely free to use, and had no data component involved.
Yes, there is the question of currency of the maps, but given my needs, this was acceptable.
Personally, if the usage of the solution isnt free, then I will go with a free solution instead.
Comeon people! WHEN did Telstra EVER offer their loyal customers, value for money?
Yes there are other “free” turn by turn appns, and why wouldnt you? Like Nokia OVI, they are free and include “offline” built in Maps.. However, to be fair, the Telstra Online Where-is application does include free data..
And Whereis Maps can be accessed without the above-mentioned Application, except without the Turn-by-Turn and other extras.
I guess you would have to weigh up whats the best option. If you use online Turn-by-Turn considerable, then the included data option may be more cost effective.
But being outside Metro, i find the likes of Ovi far more effective, and can be used “off-line” anywhere..
Will this work with other android handsets besides the Telstra provided ones? I have a Nexus One with a Telstra sim and cannot download the app anywhere. The link just forwards me to the mobile whereis site.
Good to see that Telstra is making WhereIs Navigator available on their latest handsets, particularly the Android OS-powered ones, but I have a small suggestion – the ability to subscribe annually (ie. pay the $180 in one lump sum). This would be even more important for pre-paid customers, whom may not always have credit on their service at the time of renewal.
Also, is WhereIs Navigator available to pre-paid customers? I’ve always been a post-paid customer until recently, so I’ve never really tried… It’d be awfully disappointing if this is the case.
Hi Gregory, A message for you from the product team….We’re currently looking at different subscriptions models, including longer-term subscriptions, but nothing confirmed at this time.
Whereis Navigator is available to pre-paid customers with a compatible mobile.
Cheers, Brendan.
Gregory Opera,
Mate, just get yourself a Nokia Handset, like the Telstra N97 Mini. They have free lifetime Ovi maps , which are installed on the phone and are accessed offline, with GPS free turn by turn navigation..
You cant go wrong..They are great maps..
If you dont like the N97 mini, you can buy others outright that will do the same job. I have a Nokia Navigator 6710, but will be upgrading to the N8 when it comes out around sept/oct.
I am wanting to know if the NextG nokia maps are capable of running the free Ovi maps as I am after a worldwide solution. I have asked at the Telstra shop but they did not know what I was talking about
Ed.. Many Nokia Handsets will support Ovi Maps..
http://maps.nokia.com/services-and-apps/ovi-maps
* Nokia N97
* Nokia N97 mini
* Nokia 6710 Navigator
* Nokia X6
* Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
* Nokia 5230
* Nokia E52
* Nokia E72
And i believe yet to be released N8
But if you dont mind using some Data, the Free Online Google maps are good too, but no Turn By Turn.
OVI are the best, Free Turn By Turn, & Offline Stored Maps, you cant go wrong, but limited to Nokia handsets.
I am aware of this information, I was just worried that when the Telstra NextG chip is added to the phone that it may of disenabled it some how. Why don’t Telstra advertise that Ovi maps are available? I can only assume that they would rather gather money for the paid services.
Ed..
The Ovi maps are a free nokia phone feature, irrespective of Sims.
Get the right Nokia and you dont need Whereis Paid Service.
If you dont need Turn By Turn Navigation, just get the Google maps application.
I’m starting a new job on Tuesday (06-07-10) – ‘taxi driving in Darwin’ – I would really like to be able to use “WhereIs navigator. At $15.00/month that works out to be $170.00/year. That is WAY TOO MUCH.
Can’t you guys do better than that — say similar to Nokia maps — around $100.00/year?? Or better???
I got rid of my N97 piece of junk and got a HTC Desire so I’m not interested in OVI maps (or anything else Nokia ever produces after the N97 fiasco).
I didn’t even bother with the Navigator trial – $15/month is an absolute joke.
Google Maps is a great system (and Free) but you still pay for the data and its no good if you haven’t got reception.
I purchased Mobile Maps 10 for Android which includes built in maps. Its a bit clunky (says there is no airport in Darwin) but it gets the job done. Use Google Maps if I want something good and MM10 if Google is unavailable.
You guys must be kidding me! Are you saying that Nokia and their crap Symbian OS are the only phone makers on the planet that have free turn by turn navigation on a mobile device – except for the latest Garmins? WTF!? So of all the thousands of apps that are out there for iPhone and Android phones – not one of them is a suitable pre-loaded, on the phone, GPS enabled mapping application? You HAVE to be on a mobile data plan to get navigation on these so called latest phones~!? OMG… I am sticking with my crappy Nokia N85. It has FREE – YES FREEEEEEEEE (listen Telstra)… NAVIGATION and without the need to be online. The maps are preloaded or downloaded to get them updated and away I go. Thank you Ovi.
Yea! It’s gone down to a monthly subscription of $9.95.
Thanks Whereis – Now maybe you can cut this in half again.
Just 2 more problems top fix and then we’re laughing:-
1/ Find another way to describe taking the 1st turn and the 3rd turn when the lady speaks these directions you can’t tell which one she is talking about as they sound exactly the same.
2 The commentator seems to be unable to give directions approaching a round a bout unti the last 100 mtrs or so. Prior to the that distance we are told —”At the next round-a-about—- and nothing????
I was very dissapointed to see google maps do not offer turn by turn navigation for free in Australia on my new HTC desire. Thankfully my old nokia 6110 navigator still works with a pre paid sim from England. Thanks Nokia, get your act together Telstra/ HTC
Turn by turn navigation on google maps is available in USA, in Australia no, but installation of google maps brut mod, google it, gives you turn by turn navigation for free, using google maps and your data connection. Works in Australia.
I loved whereis when i used the trial version and later subscribed for one day whilst on holidays. Unfortunately there is no simple way to unsubscribe. After the 24hr period i was still able to use the service. Before i subscribed I had read blogs stating that don’t presume that if you subscribe for a month that at the end of the month it will automatically finish.
Noooo…… you have to unsubscribe. So I was a bit concerned about being slugged a daily fee. You ring telstra because there is no obvious one click solution and you spend a lifetime on the phone being switched from one department to another (no one has a clue) – just like with any other telstra accounting problem. I have been terribly let down by Telsta customer service. 3g in our area is the only thing keeping me with telstra, otherwise i have no reception in my house.