TomTom new products

TomTom announced yesterday its new range of TomTom Go to replace the x10 series : the 520 (regional map) and the 720 (European map). These are beautiful products with improved 3D display, large screen, built-in FM transmitter, RDS and hands-free phone functionality.

There are 4 major innovations:

• Community services: with its large base of customers, TomTom is introducing a community service, where users will update maps by notifying changes. The technology used is called Map Share. Community services will also be introduced to allow users to exchange photos and points through Bluetooth.
• Personalization: users will be able to record new vocal instructions, such as their own voice
• Security and Assistance: a "help me" menu will allow users to access detailed safety information, and even reach a call center for assistance
• Voice recognition: users will be able to "speak up" their cities and street names. A good point when people claim GPS devices can distract drivers.

TomTom is moving is the right direction regarding community. However, focusing on Bluetooth and mobile phone connections is probably not the fastest way to develop a community, since most users (still) don't connect their phone to the GPS. At NAVX, we favor the web as the focal point of community services: better reach, richer functionnalities :-)

We are cautious about letting the end-users personnalize vocal instructions with their own voice. Having them record about a hundred different files seems to be a challenge. People never typed their own phone ringtone, right ? Well, we'll see...

One disappointement: the new TomTom devices do not have SIM cards :-( We would love to see a mass market equivalent to the TomTom 715 !

Now, TomTom didn't say a word about a potential GO 920. Are they going to surprise us with a hefty hard-disk, iPod-like features, and possibly a SIM card socket ?

The 520 and the 720 will be available Q3 2007, at about 400 to 500€. You can find detailed info on GPSandco, Mobinaute and of course on TomTom.