Garmin nuvifone: Fat iPhone look-alike packs GPS

By Andrew Lim on 01 February 2008, 11:51am

With the Mobile World Congress (formerly known as 3GSM) just around the corner, it's no surprise that all the mobile manufacturers are gearing up to show off their latest and greatest handsets to the world's press.

One manufacturer we didn't expect to see announcing a new phone was Garmin, which has just sent out a press release announcing its new handset, the Garmin nuvifone -- a GPS enabled phone with a large touchscreen.

Packed with a sat-nav, phone and Web browser, it looks like the nuvifone will compete directly with the iPhone. But Garmin is clear to point out this is an all-in-one device, which gives users what they've been "longing for".

Its interface is very iPhoney (no pun intended) and it looks like it will be easy to press using just your finger, which is great -- we're not uberkeen on styli. But we do have a few reservations about this potentially excellent device.

Don't get us wrong, we like the idea, but if these Engadget pictures are anything to go by, it looks like the nuvifone is an ickle bit chunky. We no like the chunk. If we go to the WMC on 11 February and it's a sexy product, though, we'll be delighted.

Make sure to visit Crave on 11, 12 and 13 February, for all our Mobile World Congress coverage and pics of the hawt new phonage. -Andrew Lim