First iPhone nav app, but not from TomTom

By Derek Fung on 22 June 2009

The first navigation app with turn-by-turn instructions has hit iPhone's App Store and — guess what? — it's not the TomTom app that was revealed at this year's Apple developer's conference to such fanfare.

Called Sygic Mobile Maps Australia, it's available now on the store for AU$79.99. The Aussie version features local maps from Whereis, in addition to a set of Kiwi maps, that are stored on the device. According to Sygic, Mobile Maps for the iPhone features turn-by-turn voice guidance, automatic re-routing, lane guidance and speed limit info, as well as red and speed light cameras. So, essentially, it's an iPhone-ised version of the company's Mobile Maps app that's already available on Symbian and Windows Mobile devices.

Also available is a pricier US$79.99 (AU$100) version branded as Sygic Mobile Maps South East Asia that features Tele Atlas maps for Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Two other versions are being worked on, one for Europe, including up to 44 countries, and one for the US, Canada and Mexico, although a release date for those versions has yet to be set.

We hope to have a copy of the app shortly, with a review to follow. Until then, check out the photo gallery below.

Map screen

Although all the screenshots that we've seen so far are in portrait mode, but according to Whereis there's also a landscape mode that occurs automatically when you tilt the iPhone.

(Credit: Sygic)

Topics: sygic, whereis, iphone, app store, map, wherei, app, credit, mobile, tomtom

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Comments (12)

  • Yomamma commented on 21/07/2009 21:46 Report abuse

    If you think about it, it's saving a lot of
    money, usually tomtom units
    cost around $160au but this is much cheaper because u r only payig for the maps not the unit, also, they will probably charge a set price ($1.19) then just charge for the maps from within the app, they usually charge $80 for all of Australia map on the pc software so look for it around that price

  • Johnny44 commented on 24/06/2009 19:40 Report abuse

    Wonder how many other spellings are mispelt on this app.

  • DoUrResearch commented on 24/06/2009 10:03 Report abuse

    That highway exist. Not everything revolves around 'American' English.

  • Felipe commented on 23/06/2009 16:34 Report abuse

    I'll wait till tomtom thanks...

  • Johnny44 commented on 23/06/2009 15:25 Report abuse

    Wonder how many other spellings are mispelt on this app.

  • doucheydouchedouche commented on 23/06/2009 14:17 Report abuse

    far out i hope the tom tom app isn't so expensive!

  • Johnny44 commented on 23/06/2009 03:19 Report abuse

    Wonder how many other spellings are mispelt on this app.

  • cluey commented on 22/06/2009 21:02 Report abuse

    anyone else notice the spelling on the map screen image? Not a great sign...

  • Johnny44 commented on 22/06/2009 20:53 Report abuse

    Forgot to mention in the earlier post that xGPS works without the need for a Wi Fi or 3G network connection ie it uses GPS signals. Obviously, it doesn't provide all the bells and whistles of turn by turn voice guidance but, hey, for a mobile phone, its still pretty good. And of course, its not going to affect your data allowance (once you've downloaded the app and installed it).

  • Johnny44 commented on 22/06/2009 20:40 Report abuse

    If you have jailbroken your iPhone, you can download from Cydia xGPS that uses the GPS built into the iPhone and it doesn't cost a cent! It works with Google Maps and it works brilliantly. I'm tempted to think that Apple didn't provide full GPS in the iPhone to prevent Garmin and Tom Tom going broke (and to keep the mobile phone carriers happy).

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