If Google ever adds navigation support to Google Maps, it will likely be the beginning of the end for commercial mapping and navigation software vendors. Its hard to imaging where Google will stop with developing free software, but they just keep going and going. Their model is to generate income from advertising primarily, so its got to be making those in its path a bit nervous. Now Google Maps has taken a leap over those vendors in a new and welcome way.... allowing you to find your location on the map WITHOUT a GPS.

At the reference page you can view a YouTube video that will explain how the new My Location feature of Google Maps 2.0 works. If your device has a GPS, it works like normal and gives you a blue dot on the map where you are. If you don't have a GPS, it triangulates your approximate location using signals from cellphone towers, and indicates the less accurate location with a light grey circle surrounding the dot. While its probably not accurate enough to actually do road navigation, it can certainly save you from keying in where you are. And with the ability to also see satelite images, it should be relatively easy to figure out exactly where you are.

With more and more devices hitting the market with integrated GPS, I'm not sure if the timing of this new feature will have long term benefit, but you have to give Google credit for continuing to push the envelope. As usual, its a free download from Google at the referenced link. Google Maps 2.0 is available for Windows Mobile, Palm, and Blackberry.