Free GPS navigation for your phone - not just Google and Android

Car navigation is an increasingly common gadget used by drivers. Moreover, many applications are free and can be downloaded to your mobile phone.

The main condition for using GPS navigation in a mobile phone is that the camera has one of the operating systems that allows you to install application software of this type. There are currently four most popular systems: Android, Symbian, iOS, and Windows Mobile or Windows Phone. They usually work on the most modern mobile phones, the so-called. smartphones.

But the operating system is not enough. Our mobile phone must also be equipped with a GPS receiver to connect to satellites (or an external receiver to which the phone can be connected) and a memory card on which to save the map application. The Internet will also be useful because some free navigators are web-based.

For the user's convenience, the phone should also have a large, easy-to-read display that can easily read GPS navigation maps.

It should also be clarified that navigation on the phone can work both offline and online. In the first case, navigation works only on the basis of the GPS module without the need for an Internet connection. As a result, the user avoids additional data transfer costs.

However, more and more people have subscribed to connect to the Internet. Such users can opt for online GPS navigation. In this type of application, maps are downloaded from a navigation provider's server. The advantage of this solution is access to the most current version of the map. The network connection also allows you to download updates for the software itself. It also allows you to get a lot of useful information, such as accidents, radar or traffic jams.

Android

Android is one of the two most common operating systems for mobile devices (after iOS), i.e. also for mobile phones. It is developed by Google and is based on the Linux desktop system.

Android has the advantage of a large number of free GPS-enabled applications that can be downloaded from the Internet. Unfortunately, the timeliness and quality of many of them leave much to be desired.

GoogleMaps, Yanosik, MapaMap, Navatar are some of the most popular and best free mobile navigation systems for Android (see comparison of individual apps below).

Symbian

Until recently, a very common operating system, mainly on Nokia, Motorola Siemens and Sony Ericsson phones. Currently, some of these manufacturers are replacing Symbian with Windows Phone.

When it comes to Symbian running on Nokia phones, the most common choice is to navigate using Ovi Maps (lately Nokia Maps). Some Finnish brand phones come with this app at the factory. In addition, the Symbian system works, including Google Maps, NaviExpert, SmartComGPS, Route 66 navigation.

Windows Mobile и Windows Phone

The operating system developed by Microsoft, its latest version - Windows Phone - is becoming more and more common. It is mainly designed for pocket computers and smartphones. For this system, the GPS navigation application is offered, among others, by NaviExpert, VirtualGPS Lite, Vito Navigator, Google Maps, OSM xml.

Ios

An operating system developed by Apple for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad mobile devices. Until June 2010, the system ran under the name iPhone OS. In the case of this system, the choice of free navigation is quite large, including: Janosik, Global Mapper, Scobbler, Navatar

Brief characteristics of selected applications

Google Maps is one of the most popular applications for the phone, it works online, the functions and the ability to display Google orthomosaics are quite developed.

Janosik - works online, his work is sometimes difficult, but the user has access to up-to-date information about traffic jams, radars and accidents. They are sent by drivers using cell phones or special devices.

MapaMap - works offline, most of the useful features are available only after purchasing a subscription.

Navatar - works online and has many useful features.

OviMpas - works online, available to users of Nokia phones.

Route 66 - works offline, online version is available after purchase.

Vito Navigator - works offline, the basic (free) version is very modest

NaviExpert - Works online, free trial only.

Skobler is a free offline version with a modest feature set.

According to the expert

Dariusz Novak, GSM Serwis from Tricity:

– The number of navigations available for use in mobile phones is huge. But only a small part of them are really free. Many of them are test versions of paid navigation. They are only free for a few or a few days. After this time, a message appears stating that navigation is inactive until purchased. Some manage to reload the same navigation. Another pitfall is navigation with incomplete maps. So, for example, it includes only the main roads, and the city plans consist of only some streets. Either there are no voice prompts, but from time to time a message appears that the full version of navigation is available after purchase. Another misconception concerns free navigation maps that can be downloaded from the Internet and installed on your phone. Only that without a navigation program - which of course is paid - they can only be used as wallpaper for the display. There are also such curiosities as navigation, which works once a week for an hour. Downloading them from the Internet is a waste of time, not to mention installing them on your phone. The navigations we mentioned above are mostly free, but some of them are only available in a trial or incomplete version. However, they are often installed by users due to their wide availability, ease of installation, and ability to share information on Internet forums.

Wojciech Frölichowski