Car navigation systems are getting competition. More and more drivers are using smartphones apps to find out where they are. And the apps often don't cost a dime. Is it worth paying 100 to 200 euros (133 to 266 dollars) for a navigation device? Perhaps for frequent travellers and professional drivers, but for the average person smartphone apps offer a decent alternative in most markets.
"There are advantages to the online link which smartphones already have," says Oliver Stauch of the magazine "connect." There are compromises involved in the smartphone solution though, he says.
For example screens are often smaller than with a dedicated navigation device and the other things a smartphone does such as receiving calls or text messages can be distracting while driving.
There's also the issue of the sound quality and volume from a smartphone. Smartphones also don't come with the same accessories as a classic navigation system such as a car mount. An in-car charger is also likely to be needed as having the GPS working and the screen on will quickly drain the phone's battery.
But on the other hand smartphone navigation apps can offer location information and additional features thanks to their internet connection, says Wiebke Hellmann of Chip magazine. That includes the option to post your location on Facebook or Twitter.
Smartphone navigation apps are divided between those that store maps in the phone's memory and those which download the currently required maps from the internet. The latter uses less space but requires a constant internet connection which can be prohibitively expensive, especially when roaming outside your home country.
Paid apps that use maps from map makers like Navteq and TeleAtlas offer extensive road coverage, says Hellmann. Apps like this in European and other markets include Navigon, TomTom, ALK, Sygic and Route 66 and cost about 20 euros. For people who don't want to spend any money there are the Google, Apple and Nokia apps that come with those manufacturers' devices.
There are also open source options such as Skobbler for the iPhone (1.79 euros) or Navfree for Android (free). However, Stauch warns that the maps which the open-source apps use aren't always perfect.
Whether you choose a classical navigation device or a smartphone app, one important point to check is whether and how often the maps are updated. The device or app should also be able to calculate ad-hoc alternative routes during the trip. Navigation apps still have a way to go before they match their big brothers though. In a test by the German motoring organisation ADAC in 2012, all four navigation devices tested were given a rating of "good" while just half of the eight apps tested achieved this rating.