Any advice on whether Smartlink is worth the £150 activation fee?

Yes, from my perspective.

I use it a lot ... I've got the Columbus nav in mine but use Google Maps way more as it has live traffic.

 

Plus the Google Play Music integration is pretty decent.

I'm toying with getting mine activated - I spend a few hours a day in the car and I do like the idea of being able to just plug in my iPhone and then forget about it.  

 

Does the iPhone allow google maps use - or do you have to use Apple Maps?  That might be the deal breaker for me as I've never got on with Apple Maps and find googles traffic updates much more reliable

20 minutes ago, noileum said:

I'm toying with getting mine activated - I spend a few hours a day in the car and I do like the idea of being able to just plug in my iPhone and then forget about it.  

 

Does the iPhone allow google maps use - or do you have to use Apple Maps?  That might be the deal breaker for me as I've never got on with Apple Maps and find googles traffic updates much more reliable

 

IMO it is if you have an Android phone not for an iphone. Iphones have to use Apple Maps unfortunetly.

Is it easy enough to find if it has already been activated?  I guess just plug a phone in and see what happens?

hmm - I could always use my work phone in the car to get google maps.  That wouldn't be ideal as i would need someway of keeping my podcasts and audiobooks etc in sync as I dont use my work phone at weekends/evenings . . .

Well I had a result. After checking with a different USB cable, I find that it's already been activated, so that's £150 I won't need to spend. Happy days!!