Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Wayfi...meldung/120143 (german)

Maybe there will be some changes for us :rolleyes:

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

Almost. It isn't final yet (sources).

I doubt it though. Wayfinder/Navicore is a dead end. Nokia Maps 2.0 or 3.0 is the future ;)

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

will they finally offer wayfinder for free or a 1 time charge for unlimited use? what were they thinking charging so much for it?

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

Well that was Navicore which was bought by Wayfinder...

Probably similar to some internal HP memo called "Alpha, my problem child" :p

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

So what are the odds of a Maps port to maemo?

Wayfinder makes me feel violently ill.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

I don't understand the negativity; is it just because it's not free? It works just fine with my N800 and external GPS. Far better satisfaction than several other maemo apps I've tried.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

Well their prices are insane. You can buy a whole new dedicated gps unit for the 3 year subscription price. If they offered a one time fee of $30 or so they would make way more money.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

I was going to ask around here to see who was satisfied with the Wayfinder software. I was looking at their prices and it's ~$110 for a 1 year subscription which is comparable to many other services (Nokia Maps for US is similar). For an extra $10 ($120) you get a 36 month subscription. That doesn't seem to be a bad deal, you get to keep updating the maps as they arrive for free. Now, I'd hate to purchase 3 years worth of service to have Wayfinder not supported on the next tablet and would also LOVE to see Nokia Maps ported to the next IT platform. Especially with the upcoming Maps on Ovi service that will allow you to sync online locations and routing to your mobile device.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

You can buy a inferior dedicated GPS unit for the same price; the high quality dedicated units are way more. If already have a tablet, why buy a dedicated GPS? My price included free map updates, tech support, car mount and best in class miniature BT GPS receiver. I got better tech support for from Navicore than I did from Nokia! I think the deal is different now, and I realize price is important for some people, so YMMV.

The key question in my mind now is whether it will continue to be supported on Maemo 5.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

I have a feeling there will be a linux port of Nokia maps, does anyone know what OS the Nokia 500 runs this seems to run Nokia Maps?

http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/...0-video-review

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

The software isn't improved. There are some licensing issues. The N810 GPS is also crap. But you can get a 2nd hand N800 car mount kit, or a cheap BT GPS unit + 2nd hand Navicore 2007 license pretty cheap -- together for say 50 EUR/GBP/USD.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

The routing algorithm sucks, and their map updates are hopelessly infrequent given the subscription costs.

There is a road I travel that is about 10km long; at the end of the road is my destination. Literally.

The limit on this road is 100km/h. Wayfinder would have me leave this road and take an alternative road that is also 100km/h but is longer and goes through a town at 50km/h and ends up at the same position as if I drove straight on.

I can get a third of the way along this road with wayfinder still insisting that I turn around and take the longer and slower route.

And this is just one example. Current maps and decent routing are the key requirements for gps software, and wayfinder has neither.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

The Nokia 500 does use Nokia Maps, but on Windows CE 5.0.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

Looks like it's all gone through now - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01...one_wayfinder/ How likely are Vodafone to want to support a non-phone platform?

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

Depends on why Vodafone bought Wayfinder in the first place.

Don't forget Wayfinder bought Navicore in the past.

So there is a niche product due to an acquisition by an acquisition.

(Numbers & emphasis by me.)

These are the 3 arguments according to The Register.

POI Google Maps has too, with information such as opening times. Its free.

One can also import and export POI from/to other devices such as TomTom, Garmin, and Google Maps.

Vodafone can give this service to their current customers for free. I don't think theres much money for them in this case.

And ofcourse they're not happy to support a legacy, niche product. Maybe if the new tablets are going to be less a niche product...

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

We can always hope they port to Maemo 5.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

I am pretty sure... that the next generation tablet will have nokia maps and do away with wayfinder.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

I suspect this is the way for Nokia to go as well. Nokia Maps has come a long way and is a much better product than Wayfinder. Nokia Maps 3.0 will allow users to share POI's and routes easily between the desktop and the mobile device. Nokia needs to leverage the work they've done with Ovi and Maps and extend it to the next tablet. Hell, they need to extend it to the current N8x0 as well.

Re: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
 

Here in NL Vodafine is making an 'App Store' called 'Application Manager' or something like that. Applications such as Wayfinder are good entries for them to create profit.