Garmin nuvifone to be priced beyond iPhone?

Garmin's highly touted nuvifone may cost $100 more than its Apple rival at AT&T, according to a survey passed along to Engadget. The navigation device maker is gauging customer responses to its price strategy and is currently suggesting that its GPS-enabled cellphone should sell for $500 with a two-year contract, or $100 above the price of a standard iPhone.

In exchange, the device may also have a relatively affordable data service, Garmin explains in its poll. A $20 monthly plan beyond voice would include both unlimited 3G Internet access as well as an unlimited mapping service for the GPS receiver. The service would significantly extend the reach of AT&T's data services, which are already priced at $20 for most non-smartphone devices but often charge extra for map service through AT&T Navigator (TeleNav).

Features of the phone have remained the same since its initial unveiling in January, and include both the 3G and GPS features as well as a 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, and media player software. Garmin still plans to launch the nuvifone in the summer and is expected to start with AT&T, expanding to Europe and other areas in the future.

Apple itself is rumored to be building GPS into the iPhone for its 3G incarnation, which many analysts and rumors say will appear in June.