Free Google nav now in the UK, Ireland

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Derek Fung

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CNET Editor

Derek loves nothing more than punching a remote location into a GPS, queuing up some music and heading out on a long drive, so it's a good thing he's in charge of CNET Australia's Car Tech channel.

Google has released a UK version of the free turn-by-turn navigation feature in Google Maps that's been available to Android 2.0 users in the US since last October.

Android-toting residents of the UK and Ireland don't need to have a 2.0 and above device to experience turn-by-turn voice guidance. They can download Google's beta mapping software, via Android Market, on smartphones running version 1.6 or higher. Real-time traffic reporting, 3D maps and street views are also part of the package.

"[Google has] no time frame to share for this service coming to Australia," said Google spokesperson Annie Baxter.