“MapmyIndia’s latest maps for mobiles in association with Sygic work without any GPRS connection” – Living Digital Magazine December 09

MapmyIndia Sygic Maps: Multi-device Maps

MapmyIndia’s latest maps for mobiles in association with Sygic work without any GPRS connection

Hitesh Raj Bhagat
12/19/2009

There are a lot of GPS-enabled phones available now, but not all come with maps or turn-by-turn navigation as a standard application. Many Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices have their own navigation solutions pre-loaded, but require expensive yearly license fees. What’s more, they can also push up your monthly data usage as they connect to download maps, additional data including voice guidance and updates.

That’s where MapmyIndia’s new Sygic maps come in. A relatively new entrant into the field of navigation, Sygic adds support for almost all the popular platforms available today, viz. Symbian, Android, iPhone and Windows Mobile. They promise Maemo support soon (specifically for the Nokia N900).

You can buy the package online from the MapmyIndia website or from select retail stores. The CD guides you through the setup process depending on the OS of your phone. Activation is required which can be done over the air or by manually entering the code for the map.

We tried it out on the Nokia N95 8GB. On phones with a physical keyboard like the N95, you can zoom in and out using the hash (#) and star (*) keys. The interface is uncluttered with the map taking up majority of the screen while a black bar displays vital information. The menu functions can be accessed using the left & right softkeys. In the menu, even though the icons are large and easy to read, each menu item is also assigned a keyboard shortcut. There are some nice extra features like a world clock, calculator, unit converter and country info app., all of which can be accessed using the menu.

Performance-wise, there were no complaints at all. The device didn’t hang or develop snags along the way. Route recalculation is quick most of the time, while the time for a cold start really depends on the hardware of your specific device rather than this software.
Name: MapmyIndia Sygic Maps
Price: Rs 2,490 (US$ 79.99 for iPhone)
Performance
Coolness
Pros
Multi-platform

Cons
No Indian language support

Sold by
MapmyIndia, https://inav.mapmyindia.com
Specs
Compatible with Symbian, Symbian Touch (S60 v5), Apple iPhone, Android & Windows Mobile, coverage across 401 Indian cities (with phone numbers of key POIs)

Verdict

There were two complaints I had though. I didn’t like the constant reminder that you shouldn’t use the device while driving. It pops up every time you open the app. and you have to dismiss it every time; there’s no option to disable the notification, at least on the Symbian version that we tested. Furthermore, the application has support for 30 languages, but no Indian languages and voices are included yet.

It’s priced quite reasonably at Rs 2,490 for Symbian, Android and Windows Mobile. Remember, this is a one-time cost, and there are no further recurring charges. iPhone users can search for ‘Mobile Maps India’ and download the app directly for US$79.99 (approx Rs 3900, taking into account the current exchange rate and average bank rates). The disparity in price between these platforms is strange, but given the lack of any reliable GPS navigation options for the iPhone in India, it’s no wonder that the app is the #1 in the ‘Top Grossing’ section on the Indian app store. Bottom line? If you’re looking for a hassle-free and inexpensive navigation solution for your GPS-enabled smartphone, your search just got a lot easier.

Source: Living Digital December ’09