In brief, the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 integrates a quad-band GSM phone with 3.5G data connectivity, 3MP camera, a Webkit-based Internet browser, personal messaging, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth, a GPS receiver and Garmin’s proven navigation functionality. Other software functionalities available include an mp3 music player, calendar/PIM, Outlook contacts, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF and image (JPG) viewers.

Garmin-Asus predict that when released the nuvifone G60 will offer unique features created by its location centric design as compared to the conventional data and voice paradigm. In the nuvifone, consumers will have the option of a mobile phone of outstanding GPS navigation pedigree co-developed Garmin, a company with among the most extensive in the market. Other phones have GPS but, this one will maximize the potential of the combination of networking with GPS positioning to deliver location based services. Only a small percentage of the population are aware of the business and social significance the proliferation of location awareness will have.

For the consumer the nuvifone G60 will wrap voice communication, Internet access and communication and personal navigation into one package. The “Call”, “Search” and “View Map” icons pictured capture this concept perfectly. Flip it on its side and mount it on a windscreen or dash mount and you have your auto navigation solution based on a large 3.55 inch, color, touchscreen and Garmin’s familiar navigation interface. It sounds like a single solution for two problems doesn’t it!

Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 Navigation

As mentioned, the nuvifone G60 can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation with a built-in MEMS technology accelerometer switching the display to suit. The nuvifone G60 functions like a Garmin nuvi GPS navigator and has preloaded maps and millions of points of interest (POIs) including hotels, restaurants and street addresses. Functionality includes turn-by-turn voice navigation directions with automatic route calculation if you stray off the plotted route. An integration of other phone applications into navigation is the ability to set destinations from contacts, email and local search results.

A time saving feature is the automatic position saving when the G60 is removed from its mount. Many will appreciate being able to use this feature to quickly find where they parked their car.

Location Based Service (LBS) Centric Applications

LBS-centric applications are delivered by Connected Services, a suite of online applications and dynamic relevant data from Garmin-Asus that adds location aware intelligence to navigation, phone and browser functions. The soon to grow list of applications and content includes real-time traffic information, Google Local search, White Pages, weather, flight status and movie times. The G60 has been designed to include location information for the enhancement of more common software applications including email, SMS, photo sharing and social networking.

One included LBS application many may not be familiar with is Ciao! a useful tool for helping users stay up to date on their friends’ whereabouts and status by linking location-centric social networks. Instead of wandering around trying to spot common landmarks, Ciao! nuvifone users will see their friends’ location on a map and be able to navigate to them with ease. By choice, nuvifone may have the G60 nuvifone automatically update social networks with their location information.

As do most cell phones, the nuvifone G60 has a 3MP (three megapixel) camera. It differs with the not so usual inclusion of auto-focus and the automatic geotagging of images with a latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The image can be used to specify a location to navigate back to at a later time or shared by email or the Web for others to do so. You can do the same with other people’s photos with the nuvifone G60 providing access to millions of geotagged landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google’s Panoramio picture sharing site.

Cell phone marketing initially focused on the safety provided by being able to call for help. The G60 takes the concept further by enabling ones GPS location to be transferred while making a phone call. The “Where am I?” feature also tells users the nearest address, intersection, hospital, police station and gas station.

Internet/Web Features of the G60

The nuvifone G60 features an advanced mobile HTML web browser. Users can surf the web on their phone via Wi-Fi or 3G networks with the information presented in a similar fashion to a PC based browser. For quicker typing there is a touchscreen soft keyboard which is customizable to either QWERTY or alphabetical layout. As expected predictive text assistance is available.

The quad-band GSM nuvifone G60 with 3.5G was designed for high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) networks and supports Wi-Fi for fast data connections. When used on a HSDPA network, the nuvifone G60 has the ability to download files at a rapid 3.6 MB per second.

Garmin-Asus expects to announce the nuvifone G60’s pricing and availability in the second half of 2009.

Preliminary Specification

2G Connectivity : Quad-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 850/900/1800/1900
3G Connectivity : 850/1900/2100 HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Other Connectivity : 802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth, HFP, HSP, AVRCP, A2DP mini-USB 2.0
OS : Linux
Dimensions : 112 x 58.1 x 14.6 mm
Weight : 137g (battery included)
Display : 3.55″ 65K colors, anti-glare resistive touchscreen
Display Resolution : 272 x 480 WQVGA
Camera/Photos : 3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging
Flash Memory : 4GB on-board 128 MB RAM
Expandable Memory : Micro SD, HC Capable, expandable up to 16GB
Music Player : MP3 capable
Headphone Jack : 2.5 mm
Battery : 1100 mAh removable/rechargeable lithium cell
Talk Time : 4 hours
Standby Talk Time : 250 hours
Messaging : SMS
Email : POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP
Internet : HTML browser based on Webkit platform
Calendar/PIM : Outlook contacts and calendar
Productivity : Document viewing: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, JPG