Road warriors: Smartphones with built-in GPS

Bonnie Cha, Senior Associate Editor October 9, 2009

We already know that smartphones are...well, smart. They make calls, send and receive e-mail, surf the Web, play music and video, act as document viewers--a true Swiss Army Knife for mobile professionals. Now, we're starting to see another useful tool being added to smartphones: built-in GPS. And, the number of GPS-equipped models is growing. Cell phone manufacturers and service providers are catching on to the usefulness of and desire for GPS in handsets, as evidenced by the launch of several carrier-specific location-based services, such as Verizon's VZ Navigator, Srint's Sprint Navigation, and AT&T's TeleNav GPS Navigator. Conversely, GPS manufacturers, such as Garmin, are seeing an opportunity (but perhaps, more of a need) to get into the mobile space. Sure, you may be thinking, "Great, just another feature being added for the heck of it," but we think the ability to turn your phone (something you'll probably always have with you) into a handheld navigator is actually useful and isn't just an extra luxury.

With the embedded GPS receiver and a mapping service, you can get real-time position tracking, text- and voice-guided directions, and points of interest. Plus, the PIM tools can help you keep your schedule on track. Of course, there are trade-offs. Their small screens don't make GPS smartphones ideal for in-car use, and the GPS radio will have an effect on battery life, but the voice prompts and easy access to a car charger can help alleviate those problems. Here we present six smartphones with built-in GPS.

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