Not much of a surprise, the Nuvifone has been delayed into the first half of next year. This is going to be a real problem for Garmin as this Christmas is going to see an explosion of interest in GPS enabled functionality on handsets. The 2.1 version of the iPhone software looks set to support turn by turn directions and with Apple, you know that there will be a PR related blitz when it is introduced. While the capabilities have been available on handsets like the N95 for quite a while, the iPhone is likely to push it into the mainstream.
The complication for Garmin is that delays in handset introduction are an absolute killer. What looks like a well-spec'd handset for Christmas '08 may be an outdated dinosaur by June '09. Garmin has obviously seen the fact that stand-alone GPS units are going to become more and more of a niche as time goes on....unfortunately, the solution of attempting to compete in the mobile handset market is one that is easier said than done. Garmin is going to have a very tough road to travel in 2009.
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