Garmin announces nüvifone - like iPhone on steroids

Today Garmin announced their brand new nüvifone, a GSM HSDPA smartphone running Garmin’s own operating system centered around GPS navigation.

The phone will feature a 3.5 inch touchscreen display with three primary icons displayed on it - “Call,” “Search,” and “View Map.”

As far as data, the nüvifone will use a 3.5G connection to power an integrated web browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions. The device will also tap into Google local search to provide all sorts of points of interest close to the user.

“The nüvifone is an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “This is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for - a single device that does it all.”

We’re excited to see this thing on the shelves in late 2008. It looks like it has great potential to compete with the iPhone, especially if it’s priced just right.