Just What I Wanted..Coming Soon
The other day I told my business partner, the outstanding geof lambert, we should design a new product - a way of using a cell phone as a navigational device. I like the idea of a navigational device all by itself, but when added to my IPOD, my XM Radio and my cell phone charger with attached cell phone , there is hardly any room left in the car for me - the driver. As is his usual manner, geof agreed..and then, I am sure, completely forgot about it. This, by the way, is a good way to deal with me. Nod your head approvingly at the many new ideas that pop into my head and out of my mouth every day. And then wait for me ever to mention one of them again, which means I might even be serious about it. geof is terrific at this.
So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that Verizon has just announced a service just like this...coming soon to one of their cell phones - a Motorola priced at $80. But, with a 2 year contract, you can get the phone for free. (I sound like a Verizon commercial). The service is called VZ Navigator.
Verizon says:
VZ Navigator is perfect for road warriors who are constantly on-the-go, allowing them to see a map of their current location or an address in the U.S., locate places such as restaurants, gas stations, banks and other points-of-interest relative to their location, plus hear turn-by-turn navigation with audible voice directions to an address in the U.S. VZ Navigator will help Verizon Wireless customers get to where they are going, easily and efficiently
Now even geof is excited. He heads up the California IPv6 Task Force and is a member of the North American IPv6 Task Force and this could be an interesting addition to a mission critical application they are designing.
Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive
