Garmin Mobile

Garmin Mobile leverages the company’s years of knowledge in giving people directions. The $9.99-per-month subscription gets you both a phone- and Web-based interface. On the deck, Garmin Mobile finds your current location whenever you start navigating. Key in a destination and 30 seconds or a minute later the app starts you on your way.
 
The voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions provide a loud and natural-sounding narration to the trip. In our tests we found the directions clear. The GPS system follows your current location and gives you fair warning about the next major turn or leg of the journey, usually about 0.5 miles or more before the turn. The maps themselves are a bit basic, but they are fairly large, so they stand out on the small screen. The nearby streets are clearly labeled and proved to be a bit more functional than the VZ Navigator.
 
On our long-distance trek, Garmin Mobile supplied accurate, direct routes. You also get real-time weather and traffic reports, although the interface doesn’t let you check these conditions at different points on your route.
 
An even better bonus is Garmin Mobile’s local directories. A dedicated menu item searches the immediate vicinity or surrounding area for everything from restaurants to retail stores. There’s even a handy directory for finding nearby gas prices, which includes a map and directions to the pump.

 

We also like the Web component of this service. On the Garmin site you can add favorite places and destinations to your account, which then show up on your phone.
 
We experienced some performance issues in our tests. On our Samsung A920, several GPS errors occurred when we were indoors. Nevertheless, Garmin Mobile is the most intuitive cell phone navigation solution yet. Its menus are large and usable in a car, and the database of services makes this an excellent choice for frequent travelers.