Google just announced the launch of its Google Maps Navigation app for Android 1.6 and higher. Until now, Google’s turn-by-turn navigation app was only available on Android 2.0 phones like Motorola’s Droid. Now users of older Android handsets like the T-Mobile myTouch 3G and G1 can get free turn-by-turn navigation courtesy of Google. The Android 1.6 version of Google Maps Navigation doesn’t offer some features of the 2.0 version, including advanced voice commands. Otherwise, the two apps seem to be identical.
Starting today, Android 1.6 users can download the app from the Android Market. The service is currently only available in the US, though some users managed to hack their phones to make the app work anywhere in the world.
We called Google Maps Navigation a killer feature for Android 2.0 when Google announced it’s release last month. Currently, however, there are only a few Android 2.0 phones on the market, so it only makes sense for Google to release this app for older phones as well.
Just like the Android 2.0 version, Google Maps Navigation for Android 1.6 will include voice guidance, traffic data, satellite and Street View imagery. The app will also show geographical information courtesy of the Google Maps Layers feature the company introduced earlier this year.
