CaravanPress

Nokia Smart2go map application is finally available. There were some network server problems after the launch, but now it can be downloaded for free. The application is still in beta phase.

I downloaded the application to my computer and installed it over a Bluetooth connection. The installation took over ten minutes. The first start-up was also slow taking several minutes. After that the application starts up like any other S60 program.

Map coverage

The application includes maps for over 100 countries. Baltic countries are also included, which is not true with most car navigation devices. Turn-by-turn navigation support is provided for 30 countries. A detailed list about supported countries and languages can be found from Smart2go web pages. The basic installation takes 5 MB from the memory card. The memory consumption can be limited from the program settings.

Usage

The destinations can be searched using address, name and class. The application cannot fill in the rest of the address details, so you have to type full street names, etc. There is a setting if you travel by foot or by car. Smart2go finds the fastest and shortest routes. It can avoid high ways, tunnels, road tolls and ferries if needed.

Smart2go can give voice guidance when navigating. The voice commands are downloaded when enabled. They are not included in the basic installation package.

The maps can be zoomed with * and # keys. View can be 2D or 3D. The operation is somewhat slow on Nokia N80 phone. This makes the application useless for car navigation. The software usage takes too much time and you cannot concentrate on driving. The slow response does not bother so much when walking around a town.

Searching the routes requires quite often a network connection. Otherwise Smart2go does not find any routes. The application does not store the routes found from the network to a phone memory. Searching the same routes requires every time a network connection. The routes can be browsed as a list with destinations between the turns. The routes can be simulated, but there are some bugs and the simulation does not always execute. The simulation does not require the navigation license.

City guides

There are city guides to purchase from several publishers. Most of the 23 guides were from European destinations. Publishers like AA, Berlitz, City Vox, Herold, Insight Guides, Polyglott Travel guide, Smart Traveling, and WCities Guide provide guides for Smart2go. They can be purchased directly from the application. However, Smart2go cannot tell the price.

Excellent city map

Smart2go is too sluggish for car navigation. Beta status means that there are some minor glitches in the program. Let’s hope that these glitches can be tuned out from the final release. Still Smart2go is an excellent help when walking and searching interesting places around the world. There’s no need to use paper maps and look like a tourist in town, since Smart2go is always in my pocket.