third party navigation solution

[Christoph Schmid]

About a few weeks ago, ich asked the guys from Navigon (a german developer of high quality navigation systems) with an e-mail (navigon.com), wether they are interested in porting their java-based navigation solution, which got very good ratings in several tests, to the OpenMoko-platform.
And the best: Till now it's officially a beta version and doesn't cost anything but runs very stable. But even maybe if it costs some money later, I think everyone would be happy about a good navigation solution for OpenMoko.

They wrote back, that they are interested in that thing an have already heard about it. But they don't know the specs of the Java-VM on OpenMoko (is there one at all?) and of the gps-chip.

They asked me if I have contact to the developers and that they would have a closer look to the thing if yes.

Till now I don't have contacts to the developers but now registered at OpenMoko to get this contact.

I'm writing this because I think it's a very good chance for the OpenMoko community to get a feature, that not many other smartphone have, except Nokia N95 e. g..

But don't missunderstand me: I don't want to become the Navigon solution an application for all Neo1973 from factory on but as a third party navigation solution which is still not in sight for this phone.
The Navigon-Programm is not Open-Source. But in matters of free software, everyone should also have the freedom of choice, in my opinion.

I'm very amazed about the idea of the great OpenMoko display combined with a very fine Navigation programm and think, that a lot of other potential Neo1973 buyers or users would also be very happy about the option to use the Neo as a navigation device. Maybe you could call it a killer-application. That's also good way to differ from iPhone etc.

>From my side, I would even spend some menpower to make this thing running on the upcoming OpenMoko based Neo. But I'm no developer. I'm a teacher for economics and information technology. I can talk to make the guys from Navigon to build there Navigation programm to this platform, can visit them, can make testings an QM and reports to the community. But I need the interest of the community and the support and the willing of the developers to have such an application on Neo. 
And I need the specs to give them. A Neo-device for the developers would be very helpful, too, I think. Maybe this task could also do someone else, who is more on the technical side, but I would do it anyway because I'm so amazed of the idea.

I would like to be happy, if someone of the responsible core-devs from OpenMoko would contact me to talk about that and to see if this project can be realized.

Christoph
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