According to a recent report high specification smart phones that come with GPS capabilities are increasingly competing with traditional sat nav devices
Many drivers these days have a sat nav device that they rely on to get around, and the sat nav devices that are available these days offer all sorts of features from lane assist and specialist features for HGV drivers to points of interest and much more. However, despite the evolution of the trusty sat nav there is a chance that the popularity of these devices could wane as a result of theavailability of GPS features on smart phones.
Experts have said that smart phones that come with GPS and talking map applications are becoming significant rivals to traditional sat nav devices, and in order to keep on top of the game some sat nav giants have had to jump onto the smart phone bandwagon. Two of the leading sat nav manufacturers, TomTom and Garmin, have already developed sat nav applications for smart phones so that they can be a part of the smart phone GPS revolution.
However, some industry officials believe that the GPS smart phones will simply complement the sat nav market rather than taking over from the traditional sat nav. One industry professional stated: “There are an awful lot of GPS-enabled phones out there - very few people are physically using them for navigation. Mobile phone navigation is complementary to the market.”
A spokesperson for Garmin said that there had been a decline in the sale of sat nav devices. However, the company believes that the reason for the decline in sat nav sales is more to do with the global recession than with the increased availability of sat nav enabled smart phones.
Source - BBC