Review: Telmap Navigator for iPhone

Telmap is the latest navigation provider to bring their existing smartphone application to the iPhone, via O2 in the UK. Unlike the previous packages we’ve seen, from the likes of TomTom and Navigon, Telmap is an offboard solution. This means the maps are stored remotely, rather than on the device, and downloaded only as and when you need them, similar to the way Google Maps works.

The approach has its pros and cons. On the positive side you don’t have to download and store several hundred megabytes of maps on your iPhone as you do with, for example, the more than one gigabyte-sized TomTom app.

And because you don’t actually own a copy of the maps you can hope to have access to more up to date information: when Telmap updates their maps on the server that’s what you will use; you won’t have to buy an updated version.

On the downside you can’t use the app without network access, although we did find that they downloaded pretty quickly even over a basic GPRS connection where 3G wasn’t available, so you shouldn’t have too many problems unless you are heading to very obscure locations.

Perhaps of greater concern is that you probably won’t want to use the app overseas, because even though you can access maps from around the world roaming charges are significantly greater and not included as part of your regular data allowance. It’s also worth noting that with both data and GPS active the already weak iPhone battery will not last too long without a charge.

In use Telmap Navigator feels very much like an iPhone app. This is a mixed blessing – it’s simple and easy to use but also lacks some of the more advanced features and options of its rivals. Indeed, the interface is very stripped back, with a menu bar at the top with three main options (Map, Where To and My Places) plus the global settings which offers you a grand total of six options to change. A row of icons at the bottom of the main screen allows you to show points of interest on the map.

Tap the Where To button to choose your route. You can navigate to addresses, contacts etc as well as finding nearby events using the ‘woZZon’ service. woZZon is quite a nice idea as it can find live information, such as concerts happening in your area, but is poorly implemented – it feels more like an app within an app rather than an integral part of the system.

When plotting you route you can either choose to go from your current location or plan a route beforehand, where you can pick a start and end point but no ‘via’ points. When entering your location you can use a full postcode or type an address.

With the latter the iPhone keyboard will automatically open with the number row showing so you can easily enter the house number. It’s only a minor thing, but those kinds of details greatly enhance an app’s usability.

Once you’ve entered your destination you are given the choice of a walking or driving route. When driving the display switches to a 3D map, viewable in portrait or landscape mode. Once again it is quite basic, with few options for customising what infomation you see or how you see it.

The next turn is clearly signposted, and the voice directions are also clear and timely. These are aided by text to speech which announces road names, albeit in a slightly different voice to the main one.

Traffic information is integrated into your route and you can divert around any upcoming blockages, although it isn’t possible to make any changes to your route as you drive, beyond going off course and waiting for the software to reroute you.

Walking mode is a useful alternative but in practice offer little beyond what you can already get in the iPhone’s Google Maps application.

Overall, we found the performance of Telmap Navigator to be quite reliable and not at all hindered by the need to download maps as you drive. It was a little slow, perhaps, to calculate the route initially, but we never found ourselves waiting for the maps to appear while on the move.

Telmap does have fewer features than some of its counterparts and as a result is probably best seen as more of a casual navigation app rather than something for high mileage drivers.

Price: tbc
Web: www.telmap.com
Map coverage: Europe

Verdict: 8/10

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