Verizon has just introduced the latest version of its map, navigation and local search service – VZ Navigator 5.0.  In case you’re not under Verizon Wireless contract, VZ Navigator is a GPS-enabled service  that lets customers find useful information and discover new places and destinations using their Verizon phones.
VZ Navigator 5.0 boasts of two major features – Roadside Assistance and integration with Facebook.  If you own a Verizon supported device, you can now update your Facebook statuses directly from the VZ Navigator interface. It even allows you to share your location  to your updates.  The service also lets you use Verizon’s Wireless Roadside Assistance for sending your location to a dispatcher who will then send assistance to where ever you are.
VZ Navigator 5.0 also sports a sleek and easy-to-use interface which lets you enjoy the following features:
- Improved customer experience by streaming data rather than downloading them
- Enhanced points of interest that provides access to premium places of interest with descriptions and Map icons
- Traffic crowd sourcing for sending real-time location and speed to the VZ Navigator traffic reporting system
- Alert for other road attributes such as graphic notifications for tunnels, u-turns, traffic circles and toll plazas
- Say it mode for BlackBerry and Windows Mobile smartphones for verbally searching and updating destinations.
Now, here’s the most important part – pricing. The service will cost you $9.99 monthly for unlimited access or $2.99 for a one-day/24-hour service. This will include continous updates to maps and points of interest,
VZ Navigator 5.0 is available for BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone, LG enV TOUCH, HTC Touch Pro2 Â and Samsung Omnia. Â It will be available to other devices soon.
Originally posted on February 1, 2010 @ 9:24 am