Google Navigation hits the streets

At last navigation from big G. Somehow investors sees this a big threat for other GPS navigation makers, with the value of Garmins stocks plummeting.

This has been anticipated for quite some time, and cannot come as a surprise to anyone. Except for those few who has recently bought massive amounts of Garmin stocks for their portofolio.

Googles navigation is not surprisingly quite nice, and it will be impossible for GPS navigation makers to top Google Maps + navigation. However, most hand held GPS recievers today uses the Garmin SIRF chipset, and as GPS chipsets are becomming increasingly common even in low-end phones, this will increase the opportunity for Garmin to make this a win-win situation instead of a dead-end.

In my oppinion the map software in most GPS units today are mostly, not very nice. The algorithms for finding your way and niche features, like where to position your car on the road, are of course nice features. The maps themselves I could do without.

I would go out and buy Garmin stocks today, they will be a nice investment in the future, especially when you can get them almost for free these days.