The upcoming Garmin nüvifone will be manufactured by Asustek Computer, according to DigiTimes sources. This would mark the first time that Garmin has outsourced the manufacture of one of its products.
The two companies have been working together for about two years to develop the nüvifone. And the partnership could last a while longer as Garmin has apparently already got a product roadmap that goes as far as 2010.
To date, we know that the nüvifone will come with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, 3.5G connectivity (specific bands not disclosed), built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and a digital camera. It will run Garmin’s own operating system.
The Garmin nüvifone is expected to be released in Q4 2008, slipping from an earlier Q3 target. While price information has not been disclosed, some early indications suggest that it could sell for USD$499.