The A50 takes the idea of GPS integration into a smartphone further than most. Running Android 1.6, Garmin-Asus has taken the interface and given it a thorough work-over. The main screen is dominated by three large buttons: Call, Where To? and View Map. These can be easily tapped with a finger tip. A series of smaller icons, that can be scrolled through,  are arranged down the left side of the 3.5-inch, 320 by 480 display.

We’ll be blunt at this point – the spec sheet isn’t going to set the world on fire. There’s nothing special when you run your eye down the list. However, the upside is that the A50 is built on a relatively mature platform. It also means that Garmin-Asus has put its resources into the user experience. The svelte 145g unit is easy to hold with a tapered profile that fits comfortably in the hand.

The A50′s HVGA touch screen looks gorgeous and the M10′s WVGA touch screen is also quite sharp and clear. We did notice that the accelerometer was a bit slow to change the screen orientation, which is a bit worrisome considering all the problems we had with the Nuvifone G60′s accelerometer. Hopefully, this is an issue that will be resolved when the devices ship some time in the first half of 2010.

As we mentioned earlier, the Nuvifone A50 is an Android device (believed to be running Android 1.6) and the Nuvifone M10 is a Windows Mobile 6.5.3 machine, but you wouldn’t be able to tell just at a glance. Garmin-Asus has customized the home screen with its own user interface so there’s hardly any indication that the smartphones are running their respective operating systems.

Much like last year, Garmin-Asus got a head start on Mobile World Congress 2010 and introduced two new additions to its line of GPS-enabled smartphones, the Nuvifone M10 and the Nuvifone A50.

Promised since 2009, the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A50 is the company’s first Google Android device and features all the usual Google and Android services, including Google search by voice, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and Android Market. In addition, the A50 offers Microsoft Exchange support for e-mail, calendar, and contacts.

Of course, as a Garmin device, the handset will ship with the company’s navigation software, complete with maps, voice-guided navigation, and even more advanced tools like lane assist with junction view and connected services for weather, traffic, fuel prices, and so forth. Users will also have the ability to download cityXplorer maps, which provide routing using public transit options.

The WVGA (800 x 480-pixel) screen worked well in our tests. It displayed text and images clearly even when out in the sun–important when bright daylight is streaming in through your windscreen during in-car navigation. The touchscreen technology used in the M10 is resistive, which means it will respond to pinpoint touches. A stylus is included for that purpose, found in a slot on the bottom right corner of the device. The downside to resistive screens is that they aren’t as responsive as capacitive ones like those found on the Apple iPhone  and most Android handsets. This makes it hard sometimes to type out messages or key in addresses without whipping out the stylus. What’s more, this is exacerbated by the poor software keyboard. More on that later.

As a mobile device, the G60 comes with quite a number of wireless features. These include HSPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Like some other smartphones, you can share the nuvifone G60′s HSPA connection with a computer using a USB cable. Unfortunately, this can’t be done wirelessly through Bluetooth.

The interface of this nuvifone is quite unlike most phones. Turning it on, you’ll see three large icons labeled Call, Search and View Map, while other functions appear in a scrollable list with smaller icons. Let’s explore the mobile phone features first. Tapping on Call will bring you to the phone app where you can make calls and access your contacts list. Aside from importing contacts from a SIM card, you can also sync your Outlook data using a bundled Windows app.

Design wise, the nüvifone G60 is perfectly engineered for what it is. It’s light and compact enough to be respected in the world of today’s thin and light smartphones, yet it’s stocky and hefty enough to be taken seriously as a dedicated navigation device. The non-slip rear surface keeps it in place when laying on your dashboard (or wherever it may end up within your vehicle), and the dark chrome accents give the phone a touch of class. The camera and rear speaker are nicely placed, and the volume rocker is sufficiently large and easy to find. Thankfully, Garmin-Asus decided to use a standard USB port for connectivity, but the 2.5 millimeter headphone jack is decidedly not awesome.

The first thing you’ll notice about the M20 is how small it is. Its dimensions are 95.3 x 52.5 x 12.8mm, which makes it very compact and will fit in most pockets and small handbags without trouble. This nuvifone is also very light with a weight of 99g.

Our review unit was black but this phone comes in many other shades too, though you’ll have to check with your local distributor for availability. The front of the M20 is very clean with only a pair of buttons for the phone function and a directional pad. This front surface along with the left side of the device have a glossy finish while the right edge and back are covered with a rubbery plastic material. The overall design is simple and attractive.

The Nuvifone M20, unlike the company’s first device Nuvifone G60, will run on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, and is Windows Mobile 6.5-capable. Unfortunately, it is not yet the time when Garmin-Asus unveils a Google Android-based phone. The fact that the M20 runs on this platform, and not on Garmin’s native one, means that there is additional support for features, because Windows Mobile isn’t  new to the market.

The M20 is more attractive because it contains a smaller display of 2.8″ against the G60′s, which has 3.55″, and this gives it a more compact form. It also comes in different colours, few of them not previously announced: yellow, red, blue, black, pink, brown, and purple, while the G60 will be available in black only. Not all colours will be available to all markets, it would be up to the networks to introduce the colours which are likely to be most successful in certain areas.

Network type GSM 900 , GSM 1800, GSM 1900. Dimensions 0.92*0.235*0.46 cm. Weight 110 g. Battery Li Ion. Standby time 300 Hours. Talk time 5 h Hours. Display 240*320

General Network GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900 Announced 2006, November Status Coming Soon Size Dimensions 92 x 46 x 23.5 mm Weight 110 g Display Type QVGA, 256K colors. Inputting URLs and search queries are quick affairs with the P835’s 12-key, half-Qwerty and full-Qwerty virtual keyboard modes, and a responsive tracking ball makes scrolling through Web pages silky smooth.

Regardless of whether it is used for watching movies in full screen, browsing through photos, perusing documents or surfing the Internet, the P835 will provide visual enjoyment on a mobile phone like never before. The P835’s user-friendly interface ensures that you’ll get your wireless network up and running in no time. Dropped connections are even automatically restored!