Garmin Axes Subscription Fees on Nuvis

The upcoming Garmin 2x5 and 7x5 series will have built-in traffic receivers standard, and free traffic updates for life.

With companies pushing everything from tech support to games toward subscription-based models that will rake in constant cash for them, it’s rare to see a company actually head the other direction and give up that cash flow. But Garmin did it Wednesday with its latest line of Nuvi GPSes, which come standard with a free lifetime use of to Navteq Traffic – formerly a subscription feature.

The Nuvi 2×5 and 7×5 series now feature traffic receivers built in to warn drivers of traffic accidents, road closures and construction. In the 2×5 series, the lower priced 265T and 265WT will come preloaded with North American maps only, while the 275T will add European maps for globetrotters. In the 7×5 series, all units will pick up lane assist, a new feature that tells drivers exactly which lane to hop in as they drive, taking the guesswork out of complex multi-lane highways and intersections.

Garmin has also made Bluetooth – another option that used to be considered an upgrade –standard on all the 2×5 models, making them usable as speakerphones for hands-free talking while driving. Oddly enough, the higher end 7×5 series only picks up Bluetooth on the 765T model. The 775T adds European maps, and the 785T adds an MSN Direct receiver for fuel prices, weather reports, movie listings, headline news, stock quotes and local events.

Garmin hasn’t revealed how much the new units will cost or when they will debut.