GPS firm Garmin said today that it is delaying the launch of its eagerly anticipated Nuvifone device. The company announced the device in January, saying that the touchscreen handset would combine smartphone technology, mobile web browsing and personal navigation tools. The company expected to launch the device in the fourth quarter and claimed it would be a breakthrough product. Today Garmin blamed the delay on carrier specific requirements taking longer than anticipated, and said it expects to launch the product during the first half of 2009.
Although rumors circulated earlier this year that AT&T would offer Garmin's Nuvifone, many have speculated that there isn't enough demand for such a product particularly since wireless carriers already offer navigation services on existing handsets.
For more:
- read this article [1]
- read this WSJ article [2] (sub. req.)
Related articles:
GPS giant Garmin [3] to launch first mobile phone
Can Garmin [4] find a home for Nuvifone?
Links:
[1] http://www.thestreet.com/s/garmin-misses-estimates-delays-nuvifone/newsanalysis/personal-technology/10431009.html?puc=googlen&cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121742654018296961.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
[3] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/gps-giant-garmin-launch-first-mobile-phone/2008-01-31
[4] http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/can-garmin-find-a-home-for-nuvifone/2008-04-30