Schaffhausen, Switzerland –
Garmin and Asustek Computer announced they will not introduce new co-branded PND-equipped
cellphones, but will continue to sell and support current models already available.
Asus, an OEM supplier of
cellphones, also said it would move on to design and manufacture new cellphones
under its own brand. Some of those models will include preloaded Garmin
navigation and Location Based Service (LBS) applications.
For its part, Garmin said it will expand its development
of cellphone applications and will offer navigation apps and other apps through
various app stores.
Garmin and Asustek announced
their alliance in February 2009 and have developed and marketed six Garmin-Asus
co-branded PND-phones throughout the world.
Today’s joint announcement
confirms
about a split and comes in the wake of growing competition from
other PND-phone makers as well as competition from many Android-based
smartphones, which offer free cellular-delivered Google Maps Navigation
service. On many other phones, carriers offer their own subscription-based
navigation services delivered via cellular. In addition, earlier this year
T-Mobile launched the Nokia
5230 Nuron PND-phone
at $69.99. Pharos also offer PND-phones.
