AT&T/TeleNav iPhone App Launches

By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 6/24/2009

Dallas — AT&T Navigator, offering turn-by-turn directions, is now available on the Apple App Store as a download for the iPhone or iPod Touch for $9.99/month, announced AT&T.

AT&T’s service is powered by TeleNav, which provides navigation applications for most smartphone platforms. The service offers voice-guided directions and real-time traffic updates. It also updates navigation maps every three months, said TeleNav.

Other features include voice entry of addresses, gas-price listings and the ability to send addresses to the phone from the PC. The phone then treats the address as a destination.

TeleNav said in a blog Tuesday: “We would like to point out that we understand the $9.99/month cost may be more than most iPhone users are used to paying for an application. However, it takes a considerable amount of time, money and continual support to develop GPS navigation applications. The cost of the iPhone application is the same as the cost of AT&T Navigator for other phones, which is used by enough people to make it the company’s top selling application. “

TeleNav claimed that the Navigator app is billed directly through a user’s AT&T monthly AT&T phone bill, unlike other applications.

AT&T Navigator was ranked the fourth most-popular free app in navigation on the App Store Wednesday, with MapQuest 4 Mobile ranked as the top download in the category.