Thanks for starting this thread as I am also interested in the N900 mapping and navigation capabilities. I am currently using a Nokia N95 8GB smartphone and have experience with Nokia's charged
Navigation (Turn-by-Turn) application/feature.

As far as the N900 I suppose it couldn't be as slow as the N95 to lock onto the Sat-Lock. But once the N95 is locked it gets good reception. I would assume the same for the N900. I am trying to decide if I want to purchase a new N900.

Compared to a standard GPS unit (Garmin) the Nokia Maps/A-GPS/GPS/Navigator(Turn-by-Turn) audible voice navigation did not loose sat-lock as much as a standard GPS unit would. And the Nokia Navigation Turn-by-Turn is quite a chatty kathy (compared to a standard GPS unit) which is nice cause I could just listen and keep my eyes on the road. However, the Nokia Maps software routed me through the worst path to get to my final point of destination compared to a Garmin GPS unit.

Is the OVI Maps any better? Will Nokia still charge for voice Turn-by-Turn Navigation on the N900? No free voice Navigation offer for new N900 purchases?

I would like to see Andriod's Google Navigation become compatible with the N900 also. As MOUNTAINX posted couldn't the Google Navigation be ported to the N900? Considering with the N900 user has access to root and Andriod and Maemo are both versions of linux. I saw on an online video that N900 had a google voice websearch app installed.

So the GPS software and VOIP capabilities are keeping me from making the N900 purchase.

Now that FRING has video VOIP chat on their new software release for Symbian, Maemo shouldn't be far off right?

I would like to see if Garmin Mobile XT could be ran on the N900, anybody know? Officially it is not supported, but the N900 does have the memory card drive for it, and the Garmin Mobile XT does support the Nokia N95, etc.

Anybody know more information on the GPS software compatible with the N900 other than OVI Maps?

Thanks!