Compared to the first version of the software, the current Telenav comes with several key enhancements. Besides the traffic alerts, which I will get to in a moment, users get dynamic maps that continuously update the position of the device, which makes a Telenav-equipped cellphone a near-perfect GPS device for the urban landscape. Even if you are just walking down the road, you can easily find your way around, the next Starbucks, other businesses or virtually any point of interest.

Other than our Samsung phone in the first test, the Katana model had no reception issues and acquired our positions instantly - even when we moved inside buildings or in downtown areas where skyscrapers were growing into the sky on both sides of the street.

Telenav also comes with an unusually well sorted directory of points of interest which included Wi-Fi hotspots as well as gas stations and the current gas price. For example, you not only can find gas stations along your route, but also can find the one that offers the lowest gas price.

The addition of traffic data is a welcome addition, especially for commuters. Based on data retrieved from sensors on the side of the street as well as fleet movements, Telenav indicates the traffic situation major streets by reporting traveling speeds on those roads. With a simple click, the software allows the user to avoid sections with slow moving traffic and find a different route around it. In our short test period, this feature worked reliably and without complaints.

As expected, the high-resolution screen and a great sound capability of the test phone were major contributors that quickly convinced us that the Telenav subscription on a cellphone can be everything you are looking for in GPS functionality.

The bad

"Can", of course, is the keyword here. As virtually any other GPS device on the market, this particular solution also its drawbacks that determine its main purpose: To guide you through the urban landscape within a range of 15 miles.

First of all, the screen size of a cellphone makes such a GPS unit always more difficult to read than a larger portable unit. Mounted to a flexible arm/cradle combination on the windshield, even the slightest movement of the phone can cause the display to be virtually unreadable from the driver's seat. We found the vibration especially annoying over extended periods of times and even when we just drove from the Chicago suburbs to downtown.

While getting around in the immediate vicinity was very convenient with the system, there are more navigation obstacles the longer the route. Since there is no navigation data stored on the phone, all GPS data have to be downloaded from the Telenav server, which can translate into substantial delays: Destination data is typically received within a few seconds, but map displays covering several miles, including traffic data, can take more than three minutes to load.

The test of the traffic data was limited to the Chicago area, but we found that information on traffic conditions was often not available. If it was available, it was limited to tollways, which isn't that helpful to avoid most rush hour traffic jams. But, on a positive note, the system also reported closed exit ramps and offered help in finding different routes.

We felt that Telenav can improve the menus of its GPS software. Fiddling with tiny buttons isn't enjoyable on a cellphone, especially while you are driving. As an example, the dynamic "Follow me" map feature, which we found to be a neat feature just to keep track of our surroundings in unfamiliar areas, does not allow users to instantly request directions; instead you have to leave the screen, make your way back to the main menu, retrieve GPS data from the Telenav server and then walk through the complete navigation process again (a total of eight clicks). Also the "Follow Me" option does not allow users to dynamically show surrounding traffic situations, which could be a helpful feature for commuters who do not necessarily need guidance to a destination, but would be interested in simple traffic data on their way.

Conclusion

The Telenav/cellphone combination remains an interesting GPS solution, especially if you need basic GPS functionality with specific areas.

The new traffic feature is interesting, but, at least in the Chicago area, felt a bit incomplete: Traffic data was not sufficient in most cases; also, the feature needs top be implement deeper into the core functionality of the GPS software and overall menu structures could use some streamlining in our view.

If you are looking for a universal GPS that serves as a local map as well as a tool that you can use for your 1000-mile-vacation trip, then the Telenav system is not for you. But if you are traveling primarily in urban areas or if you are involved in U.S-wide commutes and need a basic GPS to find your way in unfamiliar areas, then this is certainly one of the most convenient GPS solutions around.

The Telenav software is available for a monthly subscription fee of $10. The traffic feature is free for users who sign up for the service until July. Beginning in July, the feature is priced at an extra $4 per month.