[click on image to enlarge]

No one expected this. Today in New York, Garmin, the name synonymous with GPS and personal navigation announced a full-fledged smartphone with the capabilities so many people have been pining for, GPS. The HSDPA enabled smartphone operates on it’s own operating system with e-mail, web browsing, and camera functionality.

It’s too soon to say which carrier this will be on (we, like others predict AT&T), but we do know it will feature the following:

• Google local search
• Garmin Online services - traffic, weather, fuel prices, hotel discounts, etc.
• nuvi-like navigation on the road or in pedestrian mode
• Email, text, IM functions
• Camera, video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC

More images after the jump.

What this means to you: Look for the Garmin nüvifone to release in the 3rd quarter of 2008 and we guarantee those iPhone owners out there are doing second-takes - right - about - now.

Cost: TBD @ Garmin