Cell phone management
professionals will be pleased to learn that the new version of Google’s Android cell phone operating system will feature a new facet of Google Maps: the ability to get turn-by-turn directions from GPS-enabled phones.

"Éclair," as Android 2.0 is named, provides a number of improvements over previous iterations of the software, but the GPS guidance has drawn the most attention. The Wall Street Journal says that this is one of the indications that Google is trying to get Android into the enterprise market, previously the domain of only Blackberry and Windows Mobile.

David Coursey, writing for PC World, asserts that the GPS navigation system – coupled with its exclusive availability on Android-powered cell phones – puts Google into direct competition with current GPS manufacturers like Garmin as well as iPhone maker Apple.

Apple and Google, which are allies on some levels, have suffered numerous strains on their relationship of late, most notably a public brawl over the availability of Google Voice on the iPhone and Google’s related dispute with iPhone network carrier AT&T.

This entry was posted by Mobility Management News Desk on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:14 pm and is filed under Managing Mobile Devices News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.

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