Computeractive has eagerly covered the rise of personal GPS devices, and Route 66 Mobile Britain 2005 represents the next evolutionary stage, providing GPS for your mobile phone.

First, you will need a compatible phone. At the time of writing these included the Nokia 6260, 6600, 6620, 6630, 7610, N-Gage, N-Gage QD, Sendo X and the Siemens SX1 phones. If your phone isn't listed, ask the manufacturer whether it uses the Symbian operating system.

The pack contains an MMC memory card that stores all of the map information and a separate GPS receiver that uses Bluetooth to talk with the phone. Once the GPS receiver is paired with the phone, Route 66 will connect automatically.

The maps cover the whole of mainland Britain in detail. Major Irish cities and motorways are also included. If you are willing to pay extra for a mobile data subscription from your phone company, you can download traffic information to your mobile to avoid jams.

When planning a route (which is done using the phone keypad), you can specify the inclusion of various attractions or amenities such as petrol stations.

Given that mobile phone screens are much smaller than handheld computers, it's advisable mainly to rely on voice commands. In testing, these were all clear and given in good time, but this will largely depend on the quality of your phone's speaker. You can also use a hands-free kit, so long as it is not wireless.

Calculating routes was done reasonably quickly, as was the directional recalculation in the event of a wrong turn. In such cases it actually suggested a new route rather than just signalling for a U-turn. The map can be viewed in a top-down format or a 3D angled view.

If you don't want the expense of a standalone GPS device or handheld computer, Mobile Britain 2005 is a very good alternative.

Contact: Route 66
www.66.com

Also consider:
Navman Bluetooth GPS4410
Compatible with Pocket PCs but requires plenty of space for maps.