GPS Phone Outwits Live Tour Guide

CNET impressed by Nokia Navigator's Barcelona knowledge
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 14, 2008 7:20 PM CST
GPS Phone Outwits Live Tour Guide
President and CEO of Nokia Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo shows a new phone during a press conference at the World Mobile Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. The congress is expected to bring together more than 50,000 industry executives from some 1,300 companies. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)   (Associated Press)

Next time you strike out for the territory, you might be better served by Nokia’s new Maps 2.0 service than by a real live tour guide. CNet’s Marguerite Reardon literally road-tested the pedestrian GPS service at a Barcelona conference, taking to the Gothic Quarter’s labyrinthine alleys with the new 6210 Navigator phone, a Spanish guide, and a Nokia PR rep.

Things looked bad for the techies at first, as the guide dismissed the gadget’s advice, driving the company spokesman to wit’s end. But a little trust in the device went a long way—all the way to the appointed museum destination. Reardon was accordingly impressed, but she does conclude that the gizmo’s $400 price tag might be a little unreasonable for everyone but the truly spatially challenged. (More Nokia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X