Garmin-Asus, a co-branded alliance between Garmin Ltd., and ASUSTeK Computer Inc., have sealed an exclusive deal with Optus in Australia to launch an Android-based smartphone giving a quality in-car navigation experience to users.
The Garmin-Asus A50, available to Optus customers on its Mobile Dual Band network which services over 96 per cent of the Australian population, is designed to provide a user-friendly, intuitive and consistent mobile navigation experience for consumers.
Bringing the power of the Android operating system with on-board industry-leading Garmin navigation, the A50 integrates location information across a number of phone features.
The Garmin-Asus A50’s large and bright 3.5 inch display gives you a clear view of all the integrated Google mobile services available. With one-click access to Google Search by voice, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, calendar, contacts and Android Market, it is said to be one of the most complete Android based smartphones available in Australia to date.
Other essential smartphone features available on the A50 include a multi-touch webkit browser, document viewers for Microsoft office and PDF documents, an advanced music player, and three-megapixel autofocus camera.
“The A50 from Garmin-Asus easily integrates navigation into the features of a smartphone that everyone has come to take for granted,” said Matt DeMoss, national sales and marketing manager, Garmin Australasia. “Whether you want to navigate from a text message, geotagged photo or image, website or email, no navigation challenge is too hard for the Garmin-Asus A50.”
Austin R. Bryan, Marketing Director, Optus Consumer said: “Navigation systems are increasingly becoming a vital personal and business tool. Partnering with Garmin to launch the A50 to the Australian market is another example of Optus driving to get the latest and greatest smartphones into our customers’ hands first.”
The A50 comes with a full in-car mount and car charger, and is claimed to be the first smartphone in Australia to offer photoReal Junction View. It also includes several Optus mobile services such as voice-activated 124 ‘Yes’ local search, Optus Video, preloaded social networking apps like Facebook, Mobile TV and the Optus Games store.
Available in Optus stores from today and online from 2 August, it is priced at $0 upfront on the ‘yes’ Social $49 plan over 24 months and to small business customers for $0 upfront on the ‘yes’ Business Complete Max $49 plan over 24 months.
The A50 is the second navigation-centric smartphone available from Garmin-Asus, joining the A10, which launched in Australia last month.
