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If you missed my review last week on the new AAA service on a cell phone, I’ve pasted it below. The service is very similar to Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator, which I reviewed last year. That’s because Networks in Motion is the technology behind both systems.
But the AAA service offers perks to AAA members. You can find hotel and restaurant discounts right on the phone, plus hit one button on the phone to get a tow or help.
Two clarifications I need to make: While the $9.99 service (available from Sprint) primarily benefits AAA members, any Sprint user can subscribe to it but you won’t get the discounts or roadside assistance. Also, since the service needs to send information back and forth from the phone, there is a per-megabyte data charge. However, opt for Sprint’s $15/month data plan and data is unlimited.
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Purpose: Get navigation services and AAA advice on a cell phone.
The lowdown: Readers may remember that I had very good things to say about the cell phone navigation service from Networks in Motion, which powers Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator.
Now NIM, based in Aliso Viejo, has built a similar service for AAA, the auto club. Right on a cell phone, AAA members can search for the closest restaurants, ATMs, gas stations and, well, anything.
Two new features are unique to the AAA service: local search and roadside service.
Local search: I tested the LG Fusic phone with Sprint service, the only company offering the AAA service right now. With a technology called Assisted GPS, the phone quickly picked up my location. This doesn’t work when you’re roaming.
You can search by word or category and pull up places that are near you, along your current route or near another address. You can also limit the search to “AAA Approved Only.”
Since this is an AAA service, I tried “AAA Approved Mexican restaurants.” The closest one was Z’Tejas (personally, one of my favorites). At 8.5 miles away, I realized AAA reviewers are quite picky. But it’s nice to see a brief description of the restaurant on the cell phone: 3-diamond rating and chef favorites are Gorgonzola New York strip steak and voodoo tuna.
From there, you can map the restaurant’s location, call it to make reservations and, of course, get live turn-by-turn directions to the restaurant. But if you decide to switch restaurants midway, the ‘back’ button cancels the search and you’re back to the main menu instead of the list of restaurants you just pulled up.
Another nifty AAA search feature is for the infamous AAA discount. This is so much easier and faster than thumbing through those chunky AAA guides. Did you know Circle K offers 10 percent off any 20-ounce coffee or 44-ounce fountain drink?
I tried hotels, since AAA is known for getting members decent discount. I searched for discounts at the hotels closest to my location. The first one that popped up was a Best Western. Oddly though, the spot for the discount was left blank. Same with the second hotel, the Hilton Hotel. It said to call a number for the discount. The third hotel, the Hyatt, also said to call but mentions AAA members can get 10 percent off the regular room rate at participating hotels.
Roadside Service: You could call AAA’s help number if you’re stranded. But there’s a shortcut on the AAA menu for “Roadside Service.” The shortcut dials AAA’s “National Supernumber,” and submits your location, phone number and AAA member number to the operator.
An agent answered, looked up my physical location based on information she received – accurate “up to 6 football fields,” she said. The closest offices were in Costa Mesa and Irvine, to which she would transfer my call. Usually, she said, she must ask for the city the caller is in. She then would transfer the caller to the local office to get help.
This part of the service won’t work if you’re outside of Sprint’s coverage area. You need cellular service to call for help and for the company to get a location on you.
The service was easy to figure out and use. But to get it, you’ll need to be an AAA member ($20 to $102 a year) special unlimited plan is $15/month [you only have to be an AAA member if you want to use the roadside assistance and get the discounts], have Sprint as your carrier and pay $9.99 a month for the service. On top of that, you’ll need a special Sprint data plan (starts at $40 a month special unlimited plan is $15/month) or get a pay-as-you go rate of $0.03 per kilobyte. Every time the phone looks up a location or queries the AAA database, you’re racking up data charges. A typical trip with directions uses 20 to 50 kilobytes of data, according to the companies.
Verdict: What I really like about navigation service on cell phones is that maps are always current. No need to purchase updates, like many automobile GPS systems. Networks in Motion’s navigation service is one of the best I’ve tested.
The AAA features are a bonus. They are useful and would have come in handy on many a road trip.
But I don’t road-trip often and I’m not an AAA member. And the price seems high. Too bad there isn’t a day plan, like VZ Navigator.
If you are a hard-core traveler or one who often finds themselves lost on the road, this could save your life or just be a prudent financial investment.
- Price: $10 a month, if you’re already an AAA member and Sprint subscriber with an unlimited data plan.
- Best: Thousands of pages of AAA guidebook information in the palm of your hand, plus the bonus of GPS navigation.
- Worst: Overall price is high. Neither directions nor help is available when out of cellular coverage.
- Available :Sprint stores
- Rating: 4 (out of 5)
- More info: AAA.com/AAAMobile