"First off, let?s take a look at price."
Yes, let's - price is indeed important for a lot of people. How much is a cell phone and 2 years for a data plan vs a new GPS device?
In addition, I haven't tested a GPS enabled phone, but I do worry about how it handles when you're out of range of any cell towers.
A big advantage of GPS is locally stored maps - even if you go out of the range of any cell tower, it won't care. As long as it can get a signal from a satellite (which is far more coverage than ANY cell network in the nation!), it's happy.
"Many years ago, before Bluetooth was common in cars"
Even with newer models having Bluetooth, it'll take about 10 years before it's in pretty much every vehicle. Gotta account for the fact that people don't buy cars on a whim.
Well, maybe you do. But you're an exception, not the rule. It takes about 10 years for new technologies to penetrate the automotive market. Like it or not, cars have a far longer upgrade cycle than computers.
"How long before we can all enjoy full featured GPS navigation for free?"
At about the same time when smart phones are given out as free samplers in Wal-Mart and feature unlimited data plans for free.
"For example, recently I was sent an offer to update the GPS in my wife?s car. It was a bit under $200"
$200 for an upgrade? Yuck. TomTom is much cheaper.
"Or will we see in-car GPS systems start offering things that its mobile phone competitors can?t?"
They already do. Maps that work in most of Idaho and Northern Canada. The Rockies can be a challenge for cell coverage as well. Have you tried to use a cell phone in some of the back roads of Nevada and Utah?
The point is, cell phone coverage, while greatly improved in recent years, still isn't up to par with other technologies. Cells are still lagging behind in coverage.
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