Navitel launches navigation app, but leaves out Windows Phone 8 support

Navitel has announced that its Windows Phone 7.5 app is now available on the store. As one would imagine, this restricts use to those who are running older software on previous generation hardware. So what's Navitel all about?

Navitel Navigator 7.5.0.603 (given that it only runs on Windows Phone 7.5 hardware) is -- as the name suggests -- an interactive navigation service. It sports a few features that are unique to Navitel, including the ability to see the location of friends on the map in real time, contact them and create a route to meet them. Sounds pretty neat, right?

Here's a list of features (noted in the press release):

  • Traffic information and alerts in supported regions, as well as optimised routes to avoid queues and save journey time.
  • An interactive events service, enabling users to mark / view various types of road-side events.
  • Points of Interest (POI) are supported with detailed information, including gas prices at various petrol stations and showtimes at cinemas.
  • Weather forecast for the next three calendar days is available.

Navitel App

Licenses can be purchased within the app and both maps and the app itself can be managed from the main menu (much like other available navigation solutions). Should you have moved across from iOS, Android or even Symbian, you may have utilised Navitel in the past and can now do so again on Windows Phone.

While it's good to see the navigation solution on the Windows Phone Store, we'd much prefer that Windows Phone 8 be supported too. We're not entirely sure as to why Navitel has chosen to support Windows Phone 7 before the latest release, especially with new hardware leaping in popularity, but we expect the company to release updates in the future to cover all consumers.

You can download Navitel from the Windows Phone Store (Windows Phone 7 only, folks). A 30-day trial is available for new users, so be sure to download and check the service out if interested.

QR: Navitel

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

20 Comments
  • Now I know how the WP7.5 users feel when an app is released just for WP8 phones
  • welcome to my hell lol
  • Mine too! 
  • However, I shouldn't be too bothered since I have a 7.8 in absolute mint condition :P 
  • I was going to say the same, its a crappy feeling.
  • The UI courtesy of a five year old TomTom
  • I thought all 7.5 apps can run on 8.0? 
  • Not true
  • They can, they just won't.
  • No United States maps?
  • No map for US?
  • Wouldn't it just make more sense to make it available for WP8 too? You reach a wider user base without having to do a lot of extra work (which would be the case for a WP8 only app). It is retarded how some devs do this and then claim they didn't sell "as many" on this platform - duh because you limited your user base right when you released it.
  • Currently there are more WP7 phones, but barely and that will change soon.
  • Don't care. Give us copilot right meow!
  • No WP8 love? My phone feels worthless now. Im just sick and tired of all these WP7.x only apps ;)
  • I'm so happy it's available on windows mobile....wait...what?!! Unusable interface, needs a stylus....
  • lol for once a new 7.x app
  • ZOMG WP8 IS GETTING ABANDONED
  • UI is not metro (Modern).
  • No UK maps, mostly eastern Europe.  Kind of pointless!