Roadside assistance: GPS add-ons for your cell phone or smart phone

Bonnie Cha, Senior Associate Editor April 6, 2009

In this day and age, buying a standalone GPS device isn't the only way to get navigation help. If you have a cell phone or a smart phone, you can add software or GPS accessories to turn your mobile into a handheld navigation device. How? Well, there are several ways you can go about it. First, if you have a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone, you can pair it with a Bluetooth GPS receiver, such as the TomTom Navigator 5, and get real-time tracking that way. Most come with mapping software, but double-check on the GPS manufacturer's Web site and make sure your phone is compatible, too. If you don't want to deal with carrying extra gadgets, there are some all-in-one car solutions such as the Palm GPS Navigator Car Kit. The kit includes a vehicle mount with an integrated GPS receiver, plus TomTom software and maps preloaded onto an SD card. However, it works only with the Treo 680 and Treo 700p, so if you don't own either of these devices, take a look at the Garmin Mobile 20, which works with a number of smart phones.

While the above options pertain mostly to smart phones, cell phones are not left out of the picture, especially as carriers see the increasing value of GPS functionality on handsets. In fact, all of the major U.S. carriers now offer some kind of location-based service. For example, Verizon Wireless offers VZ Navigator, while TeleNav GPS Navigator has working relationships with AT&,T, Sprint (Sprint Nextel also offers the Trimble GPS Pack for geocachers and outdoor enthusiasts), and T-Mobile. With these services, you can receive turn-by-turn driving directions and color maps; you can search for local businesses; and in some cases, you can receive traffic updates right on your phone. We should warn you, however, that they typically require a subscription fee. Alternatively, you can download Google Maps for Mobile to your cell phone or smart phone and get many of the same aforementioned features. It's free to download, but you'll need a data plan from your service provider for the airtime used to retrieve maps, traffic information, and so forth.

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