Google Maps in 3D Debut on Phones

New Google “Nexus S” Arrives in Stores
Google Debuts 3D Maps on Android Devices

December 16, 2010- Android phone lovers take note: the new Nexus S phone from Google and Samsung is now available from all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores in the U.S. This device and any phone running Android 2.0+ will now be able to download 3D maps from Google for the first time ever.

Nexus S offers many hardware features like rear and front facing cameras.  It is also the first phone to come pre-installed with “Gingerbread” – the latest Android software.

Nexus S also includes NFC (near field communication) hardware that lets you read information from NFC tags. NFC is a fast short-range wireless technology that can be embedded in all kinds of everyday objects like movie posters, stickers and t-shirts.

NEXUS S HARDWARE FEATURES
Nexus S is the first phone available to feature Gingerbread – the latest version of Android.  The phone can be purchased (unlocked or with a T-Mobile service plan) online and in-store from all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores in the U.S.

Gingerbread is the fastest version of Android yet, and it offers an improved on-screen keyboard, allows users to cut & paste copy across applications and enables phones to be turned into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 6 other mobile devices.  Gingerbread will be available for other Android devices as carriers offer it to their customers. 

GINGERBREAD / ANDROID 2.3
Available only on Nexus S, Gingerbread is the latest version of the Android platform and provides a variety of upgrades including:

• Improved application management to maximize battery life
• Enhanced keyboard with space between keys and larger fonts
• Improved cut & paste functionality across applications
• Ability to make voice calls over the internet 

Google Maps 5.0 features 3D maps for 100 cities around the world.  The latest version of the software stores large areas of the map on your phone based on where you use maps the most. This way, whether you lose connection traveling by subway in New York or take a hike in the Rocky Mountains where you live, you can still have a map available. It also automatically reroutes turn-by turn-navigation directions if the phone becomes disconnected while driving.

GOOGLE MAPS FOR MOBILE
Google Maps for mobile phones have 100 million active monthly users in over 100 countries.

The new maps allow Android users to zoom, tilt and rotate the map smoothly in 3D for over 100 cities worldwide. The compass mode helps you orient yourself when coming out of a building or subway by rotating the map to always match your perspective.

Google Maps 5.0 provides greater offline reliability. We now store maps of areas you use the most on the phone for offline use, and turn-by-turn navigation will provide automatic rerouting when a connection is lost.

GENERAL MOBILE STATS

• By next year, 5 billion mobile phones will be in service, out of a total world population of about 7 billion
• By 2014, there will be more mobile Internet users than desktop Internet users
• About a third of all American households have cut the cord on their landline phones – up 25% from last year
• Google’s mobile search traffic grew 50% in the first half of 2010
• Search traffic on Android tripled in the first half of 2010