Navigon's Windows 7 app launched

Satellite navigation software provider Navigon has announced the first on-board navigation app for Windows 7 smartphones. The app is designed to turn Windows devices into standalone navigation devices, operable without a cellphone signal and offering turn-by-turn directions.

Satellite navigation software provider Navigon has announced the first on-board navigation app for Windows 7 smartphones.

Navigon for Windows Phone 7 Like standalone devices from Garmin or TomTom, it also offers visual lane guidance, live traffic information and rerouting, along with a speed camera notification warning.

Another neat addition is a 'reality scanner,' an augmented reality feature which can be activated by users on foot to instantly see points of interest on a live camera view on the phone's screen.

Users can link the app to their mobile's address book to get routes to contacts' home or work addresses, and the app also has a quick-start link which automatically plots a route to preset home address.

The app, which is available now for $29.99 in the US and $69.99 (€60) in Europe, is likely to be welcomed by Windows users, until now stuck with the built-in Bing Maps solution.