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We know the nuvifone, which combines the features of Garmin's popular nuvi line of GPS navigators with that of multimedia phone, is delayed until 2009. The question is why?

Garmin's dubious reason for the delay is specification changes requested by mobile operators. Well, it appears we might finally have the real answer. Citing unnamed sources, DigiTimes says Asus - the company building nuvifone for Garmin - is the culprit.

According to DigiTimes, the delay has more to do with the lack of experience Asus has in building devices with touch screens. Because of the delay, Garmin's could lose potential market share to competitors, reports DigiTimes:

The sources argued that the delayed launch of the nuvifone will affect sales of the 3.5G GPS handset in the future since Apple has already launched its GPS-enabled 3G iPhone and High Tech Computer (HTC) may start marketing the HTC Touch Diamond in North America soon.

Although Garmin has not revealed what carrier would offer the device or how much it would cost, rumor has it the smartphone will go for around $499.99 and be available from AT&T.

Nuvifone's touch screen measures 3.5 inches. Turn the screen on and you'll see icons labeled Call, Search, and View Map, representing the phone's most important functions.

It allows drivers to find a specific street address, establishment names or search for a destination by category using a database with millions of points of interest. These points of interests are supposed to be enhanced through support for Google local search capability, which nuvifone links to through its 3G cellular-wireless data connection.

Turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions guide the user to their destination. If they miss a turn along the route, nuvifone - as with nuvi - automatically recalculates the route and gets them back on track, speaking the names of the streets along the way.

In addition to Web browsing, users can make use of nuvifone's wireless connectivity to send and receive e-mail, text, and instant messages, and to subscribe to Garmin Online to receive constantly updated real-time traffic, fuel prices, stock prices, sport scores, news reports, local events and weather forecasts.

Nuvifone, which can play music and video, allows you snap a picture and have it automatically tagged with the exact latitude and longitude reference of where it was taken. The phone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs at Google's Panoramio picture sharing site.

Garmin plans to preload maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe on nuvifone.