I just started with verizon cell service and tried out their VZ Navigator. I tell you what, it is every bit as good as the one in my friends new Lexus. I was riding gun with him on a road trip and it worked just as well. The best part is that it costs $10 for a 30 day subscription. After 30 days, to use it again all you have to do is re-subscribe. It's an excellent alternative for those of us that can't justify paying a couple of grand for a factory system, plus i can use it anywhere.

 

Wait... ummm... meaning no offense, but if I understand it right, Verizon is charging $10 a month for (what should be free) GPS service?


-Paul!

 

The verizon service works thru your phone handset. It gives you turn by turn directions just like a Garmin or Tom-Tom aftermarket gps, plus it has a host of other features. When I went down to Miami for the SuperBowl last weekend it worked great to get me from place to place. As far as it should "free" I don't see it that way. Sure I could go out and spend $500 on an aftermarket system or a couple of grand on a factory sytem and have "free" service thereafter, but really, how often do most people use them. I know how to get where i need to go here in the Mecca, but for 10 bucks it's nice to have when i go on a road trip.

 

Huh... ok. I can see the point if you're only going to use it occasionally. $10is a lot better than $500+ for something you're only going to use a few times. I have an aftermarket GPS that I actually do use on a near-daily basis. At a minimum, I use it once a week.


-Paul!

 

I just got a new VZ phone which is Nav and Bluetooth enabled. I've been toying around with the idea of putting in the bluetooth phone capabilities in my MINI.

I wonder if the VZNav would work through the sound system...

 

It probably would, because the instructions to turn come thru my BT headset.

 

I have used this Verizon Nav for a while. I normally just put in where I want to go and just toss it in one of my cup holders. Works fine for me.

It's nice because I don't always need it and well. I can handle the $10 for amonth when I might need it versus the $400 that I might use sometimes or not.. Plus, I'd worry about taking out the GPS, charging, locking it up when I leave the car, and etc.. It's pretty slick. No complaints.

 

All your systems are not free after you buy it for a couple of K. Updates cost a couple of hundred a year. I would think that Verizon stays current for their $10 a month.

 

FL is easy to get around though. 2hrs East, 2hrs West, and you are done. Don't forget, there aren't many roads and no Beltway. I use my GPS all of the time and am glad I have it. I used to have TeleNav via Nextel, and it was good as long as I had a cell signal. I am not sure if Verizon Nav uses cell signal, but once you are out of range, you are s.o.l.

 

Prior to receiving my Mini with in-dash navigator, I began using my Nextel GPS service on my Blackberry. The in-dash navigator uses a DVD that is loaded with maps. It is far superior than the GPS cell phone service. The ways it is superior are:

a. it provides directions faster; which is important when driving city streets with heavy traffic

b. it provides better routes; maybe cause it has its own maps. The GPS cell phone system makes routes like Yahoo Maps does on-line. This means the routes are quite screwy sometimes

c. its audio is much clearer and easier to understand

d. it provides directions in more situations than the cell phone service. For example, No cell phone service, then no directions. The in-dash unit can call on its maps and is not dependant on cell phone connection (this is not to say I have not experienced situations in which it could not help me either)

Funny problem with both systems: they behave weirdly around US Air Force basis. I provide services to the Department of Defense for work and visit many bases on the US West coast. Sometimes the navigators can not take me all the way to the base. Other times, they give me false information to prevent me from going to the base. Two weeks ago the in-dash unit sent me to a periphery gate 25 miles from the main gate when I was initially about 3 mile from the main gate. This, of course, crackes me up.

What I would really like is an in-dash unit that also uses live accident info

 

My friend has the VZ Navigator on his Envy Phone. The volume level is very low and sometimes the directions are alittle off. Otherwise then that its a pretty good thing to have.