Garmin Finds Fools Gold Under OpenCaching Rainbow

• Rob Jackson
• 14 years ago

Poor Garmin. About 5 years ago the company absolutely owned the GPS market with everyone from new Drivers Ed Teens to Thick Glassed Grannies desiring the latest nav equipment for directional assistance.

Then came Android.

Then came Garmin’s promise to deliver an Android Phone.

Then came continued promises that yes, an Android Phone was still coming.

Then came an “Okay, we’re still working on this but we need some help from ASUS.”

Then came Google Navigation for Android.

There went Garmin (reluctantly).

Now the company is searching for some kind of buried or hidden treasure by… helping people search for imaginary buried or hidden treasure? That’s right. Garmin owns OpenCaching.com which essentially facilitates a worldwide 24/7 treasure hunt. Only there isn’t any treasure. Not for the people who find it and not for Garmin, either. But there IS an app that will help you look for it now.

I totally understand the attraction of GeoCaching from an entertainment standpoint, but it’s definitely disappointing to see a company like Garmin – who could have gotten their act together and launched an amazing Android device – reduced to launching iPhone and Android Geocaching apps. I’m not sure where exactly this fits into their overall business strategy except for that it uses GPS.

I think we’ve seen the last of Garmin Android hardware but I’m still hoping they’ll lend their brand and resources to one of the big manufacturers who can do something productive with it. Or at least cave in and launch an Android/iPhone Garmin Nav App, will ya?