At the end of October 2024, Google released a free turn-by-turn GPS application called Google Maps Navigation. At that time, the app was available for Android 2.0 devices.
Today, Google expanded the availability of Google Navigation to devices running Android 1.6 and higher:
Google Maps Navigation is an internet-connected GPS system with voice guidance and automatic rerouting, all running on your mobile phone. Using Google services over your phone’s data connection brings important benefits to GPS navigation users, like using Google search (typed or spoken) to enter your destination; fresh map, business, and traffic data; and satellite and Street View imagery along your route.
The expanded release also includes the new Layers feature that allows users to overlay geographical information over the Google Map. Users can check out Google Maps Navigaton on the Android Marketplace.
Available In Canada?
As awesome as Google Maps Navigation looks and sounds, there are two points keeping it out of Canadian hands:
1.) Google Maps Navigation is still in Beta and only available in the USA.
2.) Our Android devices need to be running 1.6 or higher and relying on our wireless carriers for that update has been less than optimal.
Google Maps Navigation is most likely going to be available in Canada soon, but at this time all we can do is wait, which Canadian Android users seem to always have to do.
