Skobbler: Free navigation app for Europe

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12-20-2009, 03:13 PM
breiti

Skobbler: Free navigation app for Europe
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...ax-250x250.jpg
I'm sure some of you folks are located in Europe and aren't we all looking for good but affordable apps? Well, maybe this one is suited to your needs. Skobbler offers mobile navigation throughout different countries in Europe. The best part of it is, it's free!

Well known to iPhone users already, Skobbler has added more and more Blackberry devices too.

Features:

2D map and arrow representation
Exact route guidance with 450 different voice commands
Display of real signage information for motorway exits
Information about valid speed restrictions
Always uses up-to-date maps
On-foot navigation
Directly using addresses from the telephone book
Hotel reservation

Easily installed via OTA download the app can be used for 120 days, after that, registration at their site with a valid email address is required. For now registration is free.

Besides the current navigational apps such as Ö-Navi and Nav4all, Skobbler is something you should try out if you are looking for free navigation in Europe.

Download Skobbler for the 8110, 8310, 8800, 8900, 9000 and 9500
12-20-2009, 03:20 PM
breiti

Invitation to an open discussion about mobile navigation

Just curious, share your experience with mobile navigation!

What is your preferred app?
12-21-2009, 10:07 AM
nbpulber

Looks interesting. Last year when I was in France, I used GMaps with some succes, but of course that is not a full-fledged nav program.
Also I am confused by their website: Do they support the Storm 9500 series or just 9500. I own the 9530 and become eligible to upgrade to the 9550 in February.
12-21-2009, 11:55 AM
breiti

The OTA is coming from a directory that is explicitly named '9500'

http://eplus.skobbler.de/download/ap...0/skobbler.jad

so I would expect, that it was designed for the 9500. On the other hand, 9530 is so close, that I - if I were you - would just try. The worst thing, that could happen, your berry freezes and you have to reboot and uninstall the app (best way is options, applications, 3rd party applications delete).

For the 9550, they are adding models, 9500 was the last one, so I could imagine, that S2 will follow shortly as well.
12-21-2009, 04:02 PM
nbpulber

Thanks for the info. I will also test out the other recommendations
12-21-2009, 04:17 PM
breiti

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbpulber

Thanks for the info. I will also test out the other recommendations

Thanks, but be aware that Ö-navi does not yet support storm and Nav4All has not yet adopted to OS 5.x... :no:
12-21-2009, 04:20 PM
nbpulber

bummer about the other 2 recs, but I will try Skobbler regardless. If it freezes up my 9530, I will report back
12-22-2009, 03:30 AM
jb305

i tried this on my 9500 i could not get it to work it said it was loading 30 min later the same
tried a few times the same if any one in the uk gets this to work let me know how
12-22-2009, 03:49 AM
sambaman

Well I got it to work but NO Dutch support!!!
Everey country in Europe but no Netherlands,why??
12-22-2009, 05:39 AM
breiti

are U sure?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambaman

Well I got it to work but NO Dutch support!!!
Everey country in Europe but no Netherlands,why??

It is still a little bit buggy especially by means of navigation within the app, but I can select the Netherlands (Country drop down list, to select an address to navigate to).

Moreover, I could imagine, that it gets better in the first quarter next year. There was a press release in Dec. that they are soon to be changing maps to OpenStreetMaps (open source, wikipedia) and are going to introduce new features as well.
12-22-2009, 05:40 AM
breiti

don't give up

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb305

i tried this on my 9500 i could not get it to work it said it was loading 30 min later the same
tried a few times the same if any one in the uk gets this to work let me know how

they are still in beta phase, experienced something similar a few weeks ago for a few hours, but right now, everything's working fine for me.
12-22-2009, 09:57 AM
nbpulber

No joy on 9530 so far.

I downloaded Skobbler succesfully, but it will not let me navigate through the menus.
Also I am not able to register - it expects Euro phone prefixes only.

Will keep trying
12-22-2009, 11:15 AM
arexius

same problem here...
On my 9500 (5.0 FW) the program downloads the language setting but it freezes on loading screen...
12-22-2009, 11:50 AM
breiti

reboot

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbpulber

No joy on 9530 so far.

I downloaded Skobbler succesfully, but it will not let me navigate through the menus.
Also I am not able to register - it expects Euro phone prefixes only.

Will keep trying

Have you tried a re-boot (battery pull) after installation? If I remember it correctly it asked me to re-boot, which I confirmed with a 'yes'.

Re. registration, if you press the ...hmpf, what is it called - option key(?) - you can chose to skip registration there, and it will allow you to use it for 120 days.

Optionally, you can go for the free account here:
Register - skobbler
where only a valid email account is required while the phone number is optional.
12-22-2009, 11:52 AM
breiti

Quote:

Originally Posted by arexius

same problem here...
On my 9500 (5.0 FW) the program downloads the language setting but it freezes on loading screen...

It's working fine here (OS 5.0.0.425) - maybe you would like to try the higher OS in case you are really desperate? :D

In that case you can find it in our download section:
BlackberryOS.com - Downloads - 9500_5.0.0.425
01-24-2010, 12:34 PM
breiti

Update: Skobbler for BB discontinued?!

Too sad, the free European navigational app, Skobbler, seems to be discontinued so far...the developers talk about device fragmentation, new card supplier - but imho the main reason is, they've also developed it for iPhone and their app store - do I need to say more?