Real-time mobile location sharing service Glympse has announced a new partnership with satellite navigation company Garmin that’ll see location-sharing capabilities added to the Garmin StreetPilot Onboard and Navigon mobile apps. Existing customers can update their iPhone or Android apps free via the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The update enables users to share their location with friends from within the app while they travel to their destination.

Garmin International has launched a free Android application called Smartphone Link, which is described as the first Android app to provide live services to personal navigation devices.

Any Bluetooth-enabled Garmin nüvi sat-nav device from the 2012 range can now be connected to an Android smartphone, allowing users to add traffic information, traffic camera images, weather and fuel prices to their navigation device.

Satellite navigation company Garmin has agreed to acquire navigation provider Navigon, which has its headquarters in Germany.

Navigon will operate as a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd.

Garmin and ASUSTeK Computer say they won't be introducing any more co-branded mobile phones. Instead, ASUS will design and manufacture new ASUS-branded mobile phones, some of which will include preloaded Garmin navigation applications, while Garmin plans to offer mobile navigation applications through application stores.

James Rosewell writes:

Most Sat-Nav applications are now obtained via the Application Store used on the mobile phone. Navigon have gone so far as to remove access to their application via any other route. Application Stores are now the only choice. This move to a platform-specific sales model is a massive mistake.

By incorporating advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, AI can help to optimize a smartphone's performance, providing users with a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience.

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

Mark Bridge writes:

James Rosewell shows me a colourful roll of paper that's the width of an iPhone but well over three metres long. When I look closer, I can see it's a printed copy of the Wall Street Journal's mobile website. That's a lot of scrolling to do... and a pretty unfriendly user experience for anyone reading the news online. Why does it work so badly?

This week Iain and Mark take a deeper look at mobile security and crime, they review the massive 4GB N91 from Nokia and look at a a budget video phone from LG.

As well as a brief look at the News this week the gang look at both ends of the new handset spectrum with the QTek 8500 and the BenQ-Siemens E61. James Rosewell provides an overview of how to get music and video to your mobile from DVDs and CDs.

In The Fonecast this week, industry veteran Iain Graham and tech enthusiast Mark Bridge take a close look at the ultra-slim Samsung D900, they pore over the Nokia N73 smartphone and they evaluate a couple of new software downloads. In addition, application developer James Rosewell joins them for a revealing conversation about mobile blogging.

In The Fonecast this week, Iain Graham and Mark Bridge review the new Nokia N93 and Sony Ericsson W850i mobile phones, guest James Rosewell takes a look at competition from VoIP, HSDPA technology is demystified and a couple of new software downloads are evaluated.