Standalone navigation devices will give way to mobile phones as the worldwide portable navigation market explodes over the next several years, according to a report from Telematics Research Group relayed by RCR Wireless News.

The market research firm said "30 million dedicated navigation devices were sold last year, outpacing navigation-enabled mobile phone sales by 50%. But wireless handsets and other Internet-enabled gadgets will fuel massive growth in the space, with the market growing from 50 million units in 2007 to more than 500 million units in 2015, TRG predicted."

"In the years to come, navigation-enabled mobile phones will be used for auto navigation, pedestrian navigation and many other types of location-based services," said TRG analyst Egil Juliussen in the article. "This opens up a new world of services and capabilities."

Cellphones to dominate for navigation, study finds [RCR Wireless News]