AT&T Navigator Turn-By-Turn App Costs $9.99 A Month
by Ian
June 23, 2009
AT&T Navigator is the second turn-by-turn app to make it into the U.S. App Store but it costs the same as the first.
The first turn by turn app, Gokivo (iTunes link), launched with iPhone OS 3.0 last week as a massive failure. In short, Networks In Motion offered the app for 99 cents with no mention it was a subscription based model that used Apple's new In App Purchases to charge you $9.99 a month. The problem was that, presumably, Gokivo wanted to offer the app for free but couldn't because Apple won't allow developers to use In App Purchases on a free app. A free app is always free, according to Apple.
Well, leave it to Apple's exclusive U.S. carrier AT&T to find a way around this. They don't need to use Apple's In App Purchases. They can bill you directly. You can install AT&T Navigator for free but you'll be charged $9.99 on your monthly bill. Deleting the app doesn't help. You have to go online or call to get rid of the service.
Initially, I labeled Gokivo a rip-off because of their terrible error, but now I just feel sorry for them. If it wasn't bad enough that they garnered 85 one star ratings (out of 110 total) in only two days because of the bait and switch problem, now they have to deal with a competitor offering the exact same service at the exact same price using the sales model they wanted to use but couldn't because of Apple's restrictions.
So unfair.
As far as AT&T Navigator is concerned, it offers voice-guided GPS navigation in a 3D display, there's automatic rerouting if you miss a turn, real-time traffic updates and more.
You can take a look at AT&T Navigator in the App Store here. Remember, it's free to download but the bill will come at the end of the month.
