Magellan today announced a new version of its RoadMate North America App for iPhone is now available on the App Store. With major user interface enhancements designed for mobile routing, it leverages Yelp’s API to integrate reviews of local businesses. The new app also features Google local search and maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, comes with free Lifetime map* updates, and includes Magellan’s Lifetime Traffic service* that provides live traffic information and suggests alternate routes.
“Magellan is committed to innovative development on the iOS platform. With the connectivity of the iPhone, we continue to refine our interface for mobile routing and are delivering sought-after features such as live searches, real time traffic and lifetime maps at no additional charge to our customers,” said Christine Liu, product marketing manager for Magellan GPS, in the press release.
The new Magellan RoadMate App transforms an iPhone into a full-featured GPS navigator with turn-by-turn voice guidance and spoken street names. Fully optimized for iPhone 4, the app delivers stunning visuals and enables turn-by-turn navigation to run in the background while users are on a call or while using another app simultaneously.
The Magellan RoadMate North America App is also compatible with the 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch. With the addition of Magellan Premium Car Kit (sold separately), users can transform their iPod touch into an instant GPS navigator.
The Magellan RoadMate North America App is available for $59.99 via Apple’s App Store. More info and download link here.
Note: For maps and traffic data, “lifetime” is defined as the life of the product or 3 years, whichever is reached first, or until Magellan no longer receives relevant map and traffic data. Yelp!, Google Local, and Traffic features require data or Wi-Fi connectivity.
Source: MiTAC Digital Corp.
Nice, but those without the legacy unlimited data plan…. Ouch 😉
Or those of us that go where we lose all cell signals.. (woods to fish etc)
Magellan??
Do they include a serial port too, cause USB is just not proven and too new.
Actual comment years ago when I asked at what point they would produce a GPS device with USB.
Abandoned them long ago when I got tired of them ignoring Macs.
What?!? Lifetime means 3 years at most??? Nuts.
Agreed, very lame. But then again, I’m assuming TomTom won’t do the same thing. But I’m sure at some point I’ll get to opportunity to pay for an upgrade.
Beats the life time of a fruit fly, I suppose.
Really, how out of date can a map get in 3 years? It’s really beyond that that the maps starts becoming out of date.
I understand lifetime not being forever, especially since companies can go under, products abandoned, etc… but “Lifetime” being a maximum of 3 years??
It’s a 1.35 GB download, so I would guess that the map data lives on the device, similar to TomTom, and thus will work fine without cell service.
Support for iPod Touch (via car kit to actually get a GPS signal) would further support my theory.
So I don’t think you need to worry about not having an unlimited data plan. Just download the app while on Wi-Fi (not like you’d have a choice anyway)
Of course, in cities/regions where you cannot use your phone while driving (yes, even for GPS), this solution is a non-started.
Example: Austin, TX
Hell of a state. You can pack a gin to class at UT Austin, but cannot use acell even for GPS?
I have fond memories of some of the people I knew while living there, but am glad the Texas border is in my rearview mirror.
Gun- not gin. But I’m sure more than a few frat it’s came to class withGin in board.
“Lifetime” means for the 2 or so years they’re left in business
I agree.
I’ve become so used to the Garmin that I’d rather have it anyway.
I have an app that costs $1.99 that has turn by turn, live traffic and all that other stuff. It works just fine.
The new app might be great, but that price is way past the target.
$1.99 AND has on-board maps for when you don’t have a cellular connection? Ummmmmmmmmmmmm…. I doubt it.
Care to mention the name of this app considering you feel that it will work as well as the new Megellan app?
And I highly doubt Megellan will be out of business in 3 years. They have a car kit that works with Navigon that, in my opinion, is even better than Navigon’s own car kit.
LMAO @ “Three year lifetime.”
No Thanks.
I’ll stick with Mapquest 4 Mobile. It’s awesome, and it’s free. 😉
Update is really good. Much easier to use now. But 3 year lifetime is lame.
I used mapquest mobile initially but after the 3rd time it navigated to more than 5 ml off target in a city I switched to Magellan. I am very happy with it.
GPS Drive-my app as in bought. No, it does not cache North America in the iPhone. But for those of us who just a quick routing to an unfamiliar address with live traffic it’s very good.
I travel one week a month everywhere east of the Mississippi. I have MapQuest and several free GPS Apps. None are as reliable and complete as RoadMate. Adding free lifetime maps for no extra charge is nice. A three year life for an App is actually a pretty long time for an App if you think about it, especially when others charge you for map updates. Also since we are a 4 iPhone family, the cost per GPS was only $15 each, well worth it. You get what you pay for.
For life = 3 years?
Ha, ha, ha, ha, hee, hee.
What’s next, life is 5 minutes?