Google Mobile Maps
I just came across Google Maps for your phone. What’s even better is that it’s integrated with local search. It’s pretty slick, it has the same scrolling and zooming ease of the web version, very easy to use. Only hitch is that it currently only covers the US. The map detail of London isn’t at street level yet.
This could be a really useful bit of kit. The next step would be to get some sort of GPS in there so it immediately knows where you are on the map. Phones already have some location information from what ever base station they’re connected to.
My main concern is the amount of data that gets transferred. It’s quick so I assume they’ve got the image size right down, but at £2.35 a meg, it’s not going to be small enough. It would be great if you could predownload maps for a given area, e.g. London, over a regular connection, then upload it to your phone.
Combining playing with GMM and all the mail programs I’ve been trying out, maybe it’s time to start looking for a unlimited data plan. I’m guessing I’d have to switch from Vodafone since when I popped into their store I had this ridiculous conversion:
Me: I’m using a lot of GPRS with my phone
Shop guy: Yeah that’s really expensive
Me: I noticed that, is it possible to prebuy a bundle of MB for a lower price?
Shop guy: You mean like a data pack?
Me: That sounds like it.
Shop guy: No, we don’t do that.
What I want has a name, but doesn’t exist, madness.
