Garmin-Asus unveils M20 Nüvifone

The first motorway-inspired handset?

By James Sherwood • Get more from this author

12th February 2009 11:38 GMT

A partnership between Garmin and Asus to develop mobile phone-cum-satnav devices has resulted in a new addition to the existing Nüvifone range: the M20.

The Nüvifone M20: from Garmin-Asus

The M20’s described by the partnership, known as Garmin-Asus, as an “all-in-one phone, mobile web browser and premium navigation system”.

Although the Windows Mobile-based M20 supports HSDPA connections of up to 7.2Mb/s, it also offers Wi-Fi compatibility, tri-band GSM/GPRS/Edge and Bluetooth support.

The soft Qwerty keyboard supposedly makes typing out SMS, MMS or email messages a doddle. While location-based services, such as weather forecasts and film times, apparently sit at the device’s core to further extend its standard satnav capabilities.

7.2Mb/s HSDPA, a 3Mp camera and satnav capabilities

The 640 x 480, 2.8in display is touch-sensitive. Garmin-Asus has promised that web pages can also be accessed “with only a few taps of the screen”.

An IM-esque application that brings together various location-based social networks is present to help you stay up-to-date with friends' activities.

You’ll be able to choose between 4GB or 8GB of on-board storage, which should come in handy for saving pictures taken using the M20’s 3Mp camera. Image geo-tagging features too.