Bing app for WinMo 6.x phones adds turn-by-turn navigation

Turns out Google isn't the only one pushing further into the turn-by-turn market this week -- Microsoft came out swinging today with the announcement that full car navigation capability has been added to the latest version of its Bing app for Windows Mobile 6.x devices, too. It's got the usual array of route configuration options for avoiding traffic and tolls, alerts, direction lists, and voice prompts -- and Microsoft describes the audible directions as an "amazingly lifelike voice experience," so our expectations are set appropriately. Interestingly, the turn-by-turn capabilities of the new app aren't to Verizon subscribers for some ominous reason, but folks using a laundry list of devices on Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T can get all the capabilities by updating their already-installed Bing app or visiting Bing's site for the download.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[BRIVERS73 Posted May 11th 2010 10:07PM]

Nice

[sonicyoof Posted May 11th 2010 10:22PM]

This doesn't make the front page? Wow.

And I got the update notification yesterday and I'm on Verizon. It works fine.

[Deaconclgi Posted May 11th 2010 11:20PM]

@sonicyoof
I thought the same thing! I can't believe it isn't front page news! This is big news. I am happy for all WinMo 6.xx owners. I guess Engadget is going back to mere blogger roots and using selective news reporting........

Wake up Engadget! You (your writers) have job to do and once you receive information it is you job to get it to as many people as possible. If you are becoming bias to how you report news then change your name to Enandroid or Eniphone and then I wont be offended when front page worthy news gets regulated to the "Out of sight out of mind" second fiddle section of the site.

[Chris Ziegler Posted May 12th 2010 11:59AM]

@sonicyoof I need readers to stop thinking of a story on Engadget Mobile as "not being on the front page." This is a front page. We've said all along that if you want all the mobile coverage we have to offer, you should be reading Mobile (which you are, and thanks for that!). Often, our coverage overlaps, but please don't look at this as being an area where we write stories we're looking to bury -- if we didn't think a particular item was newsworthy, we simply wouldn't write about it, period.

[SoCoolCurt Posted May 13th 2010 3:56AM]

@Chris Ziegler

not to be a dick, but i'm pretty sure they mean it should be Breaking News, and i certainly agree. this is HUGE news and i remember how Android got treated when it got turn by turn. i mean right now the breaking news is......

Skype not developing for WP7,
Common Cents Mobile is Sprints new prepaid service,
and the details of the Evo 4G launch,

then you have two things up there that aren't even breaking about 4G on the Evo 4G and HTC's Apple lawsuit. it's huge news. it should be plastered all over both Engadget and Engadget Mobile, instead its already buried on the second page and it was seriously the only headline on Engadget Mobile that excited me today. if that's not bias, it sure comes off as it.....

[DaveBach Posted May 13th 2010 5:02PM]

@SoCoolCurt

I couldn't agree more. This story is two days old and I'm just now seeing it today...thanks to a link to this story...not because I actually visit engadget 10 times a day. Yes, engadget dropped the ball...again.

[Chris Ziegler Posted May 13th 2010 5:15PM]

@DaveBach Read Engadget Mobile. Seriously. I run this house, and I think you'll enjoy the content.

[sonicyoof Posted May 14th 2010 1:04AM]

@Chris Ziegler

I dunno, I think the main Engadget site already absorbs about 95% of Engadget Mobile's content. Except for most Windows Mobile stories. Although I did see the "test drive" on Engadget today.

[ndroid Posted May 11th 2010 10:22PM]

nice indeed

[jagowar Posted May 11th 2010 10:32PM]

Does look cool and cant wait to see how its updated for wp7.

I do hope they activate a streetview option as well. They have streetview data as well and it works really well on androids nav.

[SParklingCYaNide Posted May 11th 2010 10:54PM]

I have Android but I'm Very Excited for Window Mobile fans! This is Excellent, I don't know what I would do without Turn by Turn. its so Terrific.

[SDreamer Posted May 11th 2010 10:54PM]

That took a while to get here. Guess no one really cares about Windows Mobile here.

[TheGovernor11 Posted May 11th 2010 11:20PM]

Works just fine on my TP2 on Verizon.

[Guardians13jm Posted May 13th 2010 7:11PM]

@TheGovernor11

Do you already pay for Verizon's gps service? Because I can't seem to figure it out and I've got a TP2 on Verizon.

[JFH Posted May 12th 2010 3:39AM]

Yes, hope this is as good as Ovi maps. Garmin = Bye Bye

[fluidj Posted May 12th 2010 6:34AM]

I have the Verizon Imagio. All features work just fine. You guys should edit this post so that folks know.

[Hamfighter Posted May 12th 2010 8:20AM]

Any chance of including spoken Street Names? Voice Command already ready everything under the sun!

[YanivC Posted May 12th 2010 9:01AM]

Tested the Navigation today and it definitely isn't as pretty as Google's navigation, BUT...... it worked MUCH better. It was spot on with searches AND with directions. Google has a way of directing you into excessive turns and u-turns. Bing's navigation worked flawlessly.... and the voice is really nice too.
Searching and traffic worked very well too.

[RayGu303 Posted May 12th 2010 10:00AM]

This app runs perfect on my T-Mobile Touch Pro 2. It is way better than the old bing app for WinMo by leaps and bounds. I highly recommend it. The navigation is very responsive and the computerized voice is easy to understand, and the routes recalculate very quickly!

[frothe3 Posted May 12th 2010 1:08PM]

Does it only work on smartphones or can I use it on my mobiles? I have two Sony Ericsson's;a C905a and W518a.

[frothe3 Posted May 12th 2010 1:09PM]

Can I download a Bing app for my dumbphones?

[kapryt Posted May 12th 2010 3:34PM]

In other news Bing turn by turn directions are also available for Windows 3.1.1

(not knocking Bing, knocking Win Mob 6.5)

[MarcO Posted May 13th 2010 5:07PM]

"Sorry, the resolution on this device is not supported"

AT&T Tilt. Well, ain't that just great. 320x240 WinMo devices are rare, right ? Right. Ugh.

[bjsguess Posted May 13th 2010 5:49PM]

Really wish this was on the main page. Totally missed it. Downloaded the new version and it's really sweet. Not as polished (or as fast) as navigation on Android but it is a huge step in the right direction for MS.

[silversun Posted May 13th 2010 9:43PM]

is there anyway to install this on an unsupported resolution?

[alamillafathom Posted Jul 8th 2010 5:47PM]

Bing Navigation works great on my Fathom vs750, with Verison.
Got a few alerts saying that app was not made for the phone, but that it should work as advertised. Looks like it will work ao all Windows 6.X phones.