Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has launched its free navigation service as part of its Google maps package, which includes free turn-by-turn directions to 11 new countries, which now allow for French, German, Italian, and Spanish speakers to take advantage of its “Search By Voice” feature, the company announced on Wednesday.
Google Maps Navigation version 4.2 allows users in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland to get free turn-by-turn voice navigation as long as they have an Android smart phone with version 1.6 of the operating system or higher. Previously, turn-by-turn navigation was only available in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Google first made its free turn by turn voice direction available in its Android smartphone operating system last year. Google’s move to make GPS navigation free has had some lasting impacts on the sector. Nokia followed Google’s move and announced free turn-by-turn voice guidance for Ovi Maps in January. Other GPS companies are now trying to figure out how to compete in a world where GPS services come free with a smart phone.
Google said in a blog post that Voice has always been the most natural way to interact with a phone. With Google’s voice search, users can navigate what they want to find instead of having to type they are looking for into a smart phone.
The feature was first developed in English, then for Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. Google said that they ultimately want to bring the feature to speakers of all languages.
