How to turn your mobile phone into an in-car satnav

As long as your mobile phone’s not a real bargain basement model, it should be able to pull double duty as an in-car satnav. It’s not tricky, but there are several pitfalls to avoid. Follow our simple how to and we’ll have your phone barking directions at you in no time.

Step 1: Which phone is the right phone?
Making sure you have the right sort of phone is the fist thing you should do before considering using it as a satnav. You’ll need a handset that can run 3rd party applications. In short, that’s a smartphone. Any of Nokia’s Nseries phones will do the job, as will Sony Ericsson’s P-series. When it comes to Samsung, LG and Motorola, the lines are more blurred. Some use the Symbian operating system, which means you’re all set, while others, like Motorola’s high-end handsets, run a special version of Linux. Unfortunately, for those phones, it’s a dead-end for satnav abilities, since there’s no software available at present.

To be certain, check your phone’s manual for mentions of Symbian S60, or UIQ operating systems.

If your phone runs Windows Mobile, they you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to satnav software, so progress to the next step.

Step 2: Get set for GPS
For your phone to function as a satnav, it needs GPS. If it’s built-in, then you can skip straight to Step 3. If it doesn’t have GPS built-in, then you’ll need to use a Bluetooth GPS module to make it work.

Setting up the Bluetooth add-on is easy. Just fire it up, make sure it’s in discovery mode (usually, that’s when its blue light flashes continuously), then search and pair with it through your phone’s Bluetooth menu. Once it’s connected to your phone, it’ll start looking for a satellite signal, and after it’s been paired once, it should connect automatically next time it’s switched on.

Step 3: Sorted for software
Once you’ve set up GPS, you’ll need some satnav software. Don’t confuse this with straight-forward mapping software, which will do nothing more than show your location, and maybe plot a route. Satnav software goes one step further by providing the all-important turn-by-turn directions, adding voice prompts and even checking for traffic problems ahead.

CoPilot Live is one of the best choices for mobile phone satnav. There are versions for Windows Mobile as well as Symbian phones, and it includes neat features not found in other software, or even in dedicated satnavs.

These include having destinations texted to your phone so there’s no need to type them in, online tracking so friends can follow your progress on the web, and points of interest that update automatically, rather than needing to be plugged into a PC.

However, it’s quite an expensive option, costing anything from £65 to £125, depending on your handset. If you’re using a Nokia phone, you could install Nokia Maps and pay a small amount extra for the voice guidance you’ll need to use the handset as an in-car satnav.

Those still unsure should check out TomTom Navigator 6. It’s available as a bundle with a Bluetooth GPS module, and supports a staggering array of phones, as well as providing an extremely simple to use interface. Sure, it lacks the more advanced features of CoPilot, but if you’ve ever used a dedicated TomTom satnav, you’ll instantly be familiar with it.

Must-have accessories
Screen mount – To use your phone as a satnav you’ll need to keep it within easy reach. This handy screen mount does just that, and fits numerous shapes and sizes of phone.

Car charger – Using GPS will sap your phone’s battery. Plug it into a car charger, however, and you’ll always arrive with the minimum fuss, and with plenty of juice.

Get chatting about mobile phones over at the PriceRunner forum

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