Google Announces Free GPS Service For Android Phones. Uh-Oh.

What do you want on your tombstones, Garmin and Tom Tom?

Each week, the Hindenburg that is the portable navigation device industry spirals toward the Earth faster and in a bigger ball of flames than anyone had predicted the week before. Last week's slab of bad news came when Google announced that a free turn-by-turn navigation service will be available on smartphones running their Android 2.0 operating system. At first, the service will only be available on the forthcoming Motorola Droid, but will expand to other devices over time, the New York Times reports.

It just keeps getting worse for Garmin, Tom-Tom and the other portable navigation device manufacturers. Let's review:

Not even two months ago, we remarked that the age of the PND had come to an end because GPS programs for smartphones were surging in popularity. The apps cost less than a standalone device and rid our lives of one more unnecessary piece of hardware.

By that point, Tom Tom had already launched its own iPhone app, which, by most accounts, is a pretty solid piece of software, better than most other smartphone GPS apps. It's colossal by iPhone standards, but functions like a navigation system should. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Well, this Google announcement has to be a major thorn in their side. Sorry guys.

Garmin, since our last update, finally released the chronically delayed nüvifone and...it's totally underwhelming. It's essentially a super-expensive GPS device with a phone and MP3 player. There's no app support, no sex appeal, nothing redeeming about it unless you really, really need to talk on the phone while you're navigating. This could have been something notable if it had some out in early 2008, when it was first announced. Now, it's too little, too late. They shot themselves in the foot with this one.

Google's plan is great for consumers, and frankly, there is no good reason that standalone PNDs should continue to be such a hot consumer item. now that the technology can work on a more convenient device. Emergency response teams, hikers, and other niche markets will still use them, but basically, all the growth that these manufacturers enjoyed over the past five years will shrivel right up just as fast.

That's not to say that they'll disappear overnight. Loads of consumers still haven't hopped onto the smartphone bandwagon yet and Android-based phones still have a relatively small marketshare.

Basically, if you're a consumer, look for some great deals on PNDs (NOT the nüvifone) while you wait for the price of smartphones and smartphone GPS services to tumble. There's never been a better time to get lost on the road.

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