The upcoming phones will be distributed under the Nuvifone brand starting this year. The Garmin-Asus Nuvifone G60 is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2009, and additional information about the Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60 will be released at the Mobile World Congress trade show.
"This alliance allows ASUS and Garmin to seamlessly combine the strengths of both companies to offer market leading mobile phone solutions that are of the best design and highest quality. ASUS and Garmin both believe strongly in the continuous investment of R&D resources to unfailingly provide leading-edge innovations to people and businesses," said Jonney Shih, CEO of ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
The new models will feature the same turn-by-turn, voice-prompted navigation features found on high-end Garmin portable navigation devices (PND), stated the two companies. Devices will come with preloaded maps and millions of points of interest, enabling drivers to find a specific street address, establishment’s name or search for a destination by category.
In addition, the Nuvifone will feature Ciao!, a social networking application that integrates multiple location based social networks into one device.