Would Google Maps Navigator for iPhone Kill Much Needed Standalone GPS Products?

Yesterday, I wondered out loud…

Is Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 the Long Awaited Android Killer App?

So, what would Google Maps Navigator be if…

Google says its navigation will come to iPhone, if Apple approves

It wouldn’t be a game changing killer app for the iPhone, of course. But, it certainly would be a welcome tool. The real impact would be on software and hardware GPS firms like Navigon, Tom Tom, Magellan, and Garmin would become (incorrectly) unnecessary in the eyes of many consumers who don’t appreciate the availability of pre-loaded maps when out of range of their 3G (or even EDGE) network.

GPS navigation systems that don’t depend on network connectivity have great value. I hope the firms behind them don’t die on the vine if Google Maps Navigation becomes the defacto standard for both Android and iPhone smartphones.

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