Garmin Teams with Asus for Original and Future LBS-focused nuvifones
A PR tells the tale:
Garmin and ASUS have already begun joint development on a diverse mobile phone product line, which will be known as the Garmin-Asus nuvifone(TM) series. The companies expect to bring to market several Garmin-Asus nuvifone models in 2009, and a new Garmin-Asus nuvifone model will be announced at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain, February 16-19, 2009. ...
The original Garmin nuvifone that was announced in 2008 will be re-branded as the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60. The Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2009, and additional information about the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 will be released at the Mobile World Congress trade show.
Wow that seems like a “late in the game” announcement. I don’t know if this will save Garmin or kill its dreams of a real play in cell phones. Is Asus a phone manufacturer? Per the PR:
ASUS is a rising contender in the design, manufacture and distribution of mobile phones, and has exclusive intellectual property rights in 3G core technologies. These 3G technologies are paving the way for 4G in the near future.
So, it’s no Nokia or Samsung…yet.
