Google has added navigation features to its Android mobile operating system, and will offer the feature as a beta release with the upcoming Android 2.0.
The navigation software is based on Google Maps, and will sport a number of modes, such as satellite and Street View. Other features include voice search, traffic maps and the ability to search for addresses along the route.
Google hopes that, by tying in the navigation feature to both Google Maps and Android, developers can offer richer navigation features than competing devices.
"This new feature comes with everything you'd expect to find in a GPS navigation system, like 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting," wrote Google software engineer Keith Ito in a blog post.
"But, unlike most navigation systems, Google Maps Navigation was built from the ground up to take advantage of your phone's internet connection."
Google unveiled the developer SDK for the Android 2.0 platform yesterday, and expects several high-profile devices based on the platform to arrive before the end of the year.
See also:
Foundation unveils application publishing programme and ideas exchange 27 Oct 2009
Airplay SDK 4.0 adds Android support and a lower price threshold 27 Oct 2009
New tools should enhance search for site visitors 27 Oct 2009
Web sites using Google-powered search boxes set to gain traffic 23 Oct 2009All Operating Systems Tags: Google, Android, Google-maps-navigation, Communications, Innovation, Software
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