Jack-of-all-trades location application Navizon is now available for the iPhone –either in a premium version with full features or in a pared down Lite version. The premium application uses assisted GPS to accomplish a variety of things including unlimited friend-finding and trail logging. It also features Navizon Alert which allows the user to set up a geofence or perimeter around a specific location. For example, a person could set up a geofence three miles from their home, so when that point is passed driving home from work someone waiting at home would receive a notification via email–and could then get dinner started. The main problem I see with the premium version is the price. I’m not sure if too many people will be willing to pay the $9.99 price when free applications offering similar functionality exist–but more on this later.
The Lite version is free, but it doesn’t have trail logging nor does it have unlimited buddy finding. It only comes with 5 Navizon Alerts per month as well. Really though, the key differentiator between the two lies with the Rewards program. Navizon Lite doesn’t allow rewards, while the premium version does.
So what are rewards? Navizon lets you accumulate points by logging cell tower locations and Wi-Fi hotspots. It does this automatically and points can later be turned into cash. That said, if you live in an urban area it shouldn’t be too difficult to get back the $10 you spend–although it’ll require some time. 10, 000 points converts to $10 and can come in any combination of 15 points per new cell tower and 3 points per new Wi-Fi access point. If either has been logged by another user at some point you’ll receive only 2 and 1point respectively.
This is where background application processing would come in handy. Because the iPhone doesn’t currently allow applications to run in the background, you can only use an app when it’s open. That basically means that if you want to accumulate points you have to have Navizon running all the time. A very unlikely scenario for most of us I would think.
Right now I’m not sure if this application will succeed. If Apple eventually allows background processing on the iPhone via a firmware update, the rewards program is definitely enticing. Until then however, I’d probably just use the Lite version.
You can get the applications here:
Navizon premium
Navizon Lite
