Mobile navigation is really heating up. CoPilot launches free services for Android and Windows Mobile

CoPilot is one of the leading pure-mobile navigation services available. Created by ALK Technologies, it’s application is most certainly NOT free, but it is very high quality. However, those who have paid for it are getting a happy bonus today, as CoPilot launches a free Local Internet search service to the application.

What is CoPilot?

CoPilot is in an interesting area of the mobile application ecosphere. It’s one of those apps that isn’t interested in making money through advertising revenue, or sheer bulk of sales. ALK claims to have a quality product, and charges for it accordingly. For example, the iPhone app will set you back €35. If you browse through user reviews for the app, you’ll see that not everybody is delighted with it – but the app is frequently updated and added to by ALK. It is very much a living document – and it provides all of the main navigation functions that you would want, including route planner and turn-by-turn directions.

What’s the update?

There are both free and premium aspects to this update. The free update is a Local Internet search function that operates directly from the app – it seems likely that this is to offset complaints that the local-information available from CoPilot can be a bit scanty.

The premium services are a Live Traffic and a Live Fuel Prices service – the Live Traffic service automatically detects heavy traffic and suggests route alterations, and the Fuel Prices part will direct you to petrol stations based both on their proximity and prices. This premium package is available to iPhone, Android and WinMo users in the UK for £20 – the free search function isn’t on iPhone yet.

What we think?

Nokia really has thrown a cat amongst the pigeons with its free navigation application for Nokia GPS phones. Suddenly everyone involved in mobile navigation is buffing their app up and making sure that its still appealing for consumers.