By T-Mobile’s announced their plans for pricing and availability for their latest Android-powered device, the T-Mobile Garminfone. You’ll be able to grab this thing for $200 on contract (2 years) on several qualifying rate plans. If you want to nix the ties of contractual obligations, you can expect to plunk down $450, instead.
The phone will be HSPA 7.2Mbps capable (as we expect most new smartphones with T-Mobile to be) and will include several of Garmin’s branded navigation services on hand. We don’t have a concrete date yet, but June sounds like a sure bet for when you can walk into a magenta-accented retail store and pick one up for yourself.
T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the pricing and availability for the new, exclusive Garminfone – the first Android-powered smartphone fully-integrated with Garmin’s premium navigation experience. Available this June in select T-Mobile retail stores and online, Garminfone will cost $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement and qualifying voice and data plan.
This sleek, full-touch 3G smartphone features multiple positioning technologies and on-board maps to provide navigation from the middle of town to the middle of nowhere – and back. Garminfone offers driving, walking and public transportation navigation with voice and on-screen directions and automatic re-routing as well as real-time traffic, weather, ETA and gas prices. Garminfone is also the first smartphone to feature Garmin Voice Studio, an Android application allowing customers to record and share custom voice directions from family and friends.
Additionally, Garminfone includes essential smartphone features such as easy access to personal and work e-mail, including support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar; social networking; instant messaging; an advanced music player; and a 3-megapixel autofocus camera.
I’ve played with this phone and while the unit is nice enough, the UI interface Garmin has placed over android is PURE JUNK! Not only is it awkward, but to navigate the phone, garmin forces you to return to their horrible home screen. Personally I just don’t get the appeal since you can get google maps and navigation (which is spectacularly good) for free on better devices and not have to deal with Garmin’s annoying UI.
This Seems pricey for a phone for a Low to Mid range phone, when you can get Droid Incredible, or Evo for the same price.
This is going to be one spectacular faillure – especially at this price.
i will say that i got the garminfone for fathers day and i love it. yes i wish it had 2.2 but still. google maps are great but if you live or travel to the country sides it does not work that well. the garminfone runs the nevi g60 software and is a great phone if you live in the city or on the go all the time. the phone does need some love to make it work.