Navx

TomTom announces a weak Q1

TomTom announced yesterday lower than expected revenues in the first quarter, with an operating margin ranging between 0% and 10% (instead of the usual 20%).

This is not surprising given the impact of the price war we have been seeing in the recent months. The prices and margins of entry level PNDs are plumeting, while still making for the biggest part of the market.

What does it mean ? To our opinion, it indicates even more than PND manufacturer need to :
1) beef up their PNDs with additional services that can be sold to end-users, and generate revenues through subscriptions (e.g. traffic, weather, speedcam, gas prices, parking availability, etc)
2) convince PND owners to buy higher-end models to benefit from these services

Traffic information is clearly one example of a service that people will pay for, and it is no surprise TomTom has been closing a number of agreements with Vodafone in this respect. But as more connected PNDs hit the market this year and in 2009, we expect PND manufacturers to be very creative and launch a number of value-added services that will make a difference. And NAVX will actively contribute to this business :-)

CEBIT 2008 : TomTom unveiled New PND GO X30 Serie

More details on Mobinaute : here

At the same time, TomTom reveals revolutionary IQ Routes™ technology on new TomTom GO 930T  : here

 

Navigon 8110 or TomTom Go 920 ?

According to German site Pocket Navigation, Navigon is preparing a new, 8000 series PND. This will likely be one of Navigon’s higher end models with a 4.8-inch screen, Bluetooth for hands-free calling, and an RDS/TMC receiver for traffic info. 

The device will still have the Reality View, Navigon’s user interface that is featured on models 7100, 7110, 5100, and 5110. In Reality View important traffic points are displayed in photo quality. 
See below Navigon TV ad :

technorati tags: Navigon 8110 pnd navigation

Another connected GPS: the french Dreevo from Mobile Device

The growing number of connected GPS units is shaking the navigation market, and after the announcement of  Magellan Maestro 5340, here is the Dreevo PND from Mobile Device, a french GPRS/GPS telematics and navigation devices provider.

The Dreevo is the only Open Connected Navigation device available on the market that enables fleet managers – and even consumers – to make modifications and additions to navigation and location based services over the air after installation. The PND has connected real-time speed camera positioning, parking availabilities and real-time gas prices  (provided by NAVX), also traffic information and email messaging.

You can find a roadmap of the next generation GPS devices here, on GPSLodge.

technorati tags: connected GPS dreevo mobile devices

Garmin counterattacks

Garmin is launching a counter offer on TeleAtlas. They raise the offer to 24.50 € per share in cash, that is 15% higher than TomTom's initial offer. This values TeleAtlas € 2,3 bn.

TomTom announced on 24 July that it has agreed to acquire Tele Atlas for $2.77 billion (see here). But the deal between TeleAtlas and TomTom was not closed and today, on 31 Octobre, Garmin decides to enter in the dance with an unsolicited $3.3 billion offer.

We think it is likely going to launch a battle between the two GPS manufacturers, both having some flexibility to increase their offer by 5 to 10€.

See Reuters for updates, and we will discuss about it.

technorati tags: TomTom Garmin Teleatlas

New Magellan GPS Devices Show Room

Magellan was presenting in a nice Paris Showroom the latest Devices & Products for end 2007 beginning 2008.

New Maestro Serie for Car Navigation, New Triton Serie for outdor navigation and Ventage Point desktop software for geolocalised content management.

After Maestro 3100 & 4000 Series, Magella has introduced New Maestro 4200 Serie : Maestro 4200, Maestro 4215 & Maestro 4245.

New User Interface, WQVGA Large screen, SIRF star III GPS Chipset and the thiner GPS of the market.
Maestro is a regional 4200 GPS where 4215 is full Europe.

Maestro 4245 includes European maps, a bluetooth chipset for hand-Free call, text to speech and speech to text abilities.

The Triton Serie has been reinvented will a full new design.
Triton 2000 will come with a touch color screen, water resistant, a multimedia player, SIRF Star III, an integrated 2 Megapixel camera, an electronic compasss, an embedded barometer for weather predictions and a light for clear path.

More pictures :

 

Toyota Yaris comes with "embedded" TomTom option

TomTom announced at the Frankfurt auto show that "the latest Toyota Yaris will come with the option to include a TomTom PND as part of the Yaris' built-in radio. The cool thing is the clutter free system can fit right onto  Yaris’ dashboard; but at the same time it is portable, so no problem if you need to use it on foot or in another vehicle.

Bringing navigation experience into the automotive industry is TomTom's long term business strategy. We have already talked about TomTom efforts to make the PND's embedded. The first steps was the commercialisation of the TomTom Car Connect Kit, then their partnership with Seat for a semi-integrated solution, and another partnership with Johnson Controls for a Bluetooth kit. So clearly TomTom changes the 'weak' point:  integrated GPS systems will be part of their products...   

technorati tags: tomtom toyota gps pnd navigtion

Moto Q with GPS from AT&T

What do we care most about the new Motorola Q Global which will be (very) soon released by AT&T ?

That it's integrated GPS ! Beside, it's also a cool combination of style, voice, messaging and entertainment, see the features here !

technorati tags: Motorola Q Global GPS navigation

Dash Express redesigned for Q1 2008 launch

Remember the old Dash Navigation GPS with a nostalgic look–kind of like a giant, vintage 1983 HP calculator- ? (he says that !) Well, it's gone because the Dash guys have been working on a new design for many months now. The needed makeover comes with a larger 4.3inch display, louder speaker, and power connector on the dash mount instead of the navigator.
This is really cool that Dash redesigned and optimized their device (also with a little help from the beta testers !) Looking forward to  know more...

technorati tags: dash express gps navigation 

Google Maps in HP Business Manager

HP announced the iPAQ 900 series, it's also known as the HP Business Messenger.
It is the most advanced model equipped with 2.46" touchscreen, 3 megapixel camera, A-GPS,  Wi-Fi connection. The cool thing is that HP also integrates Google Maps into the 914 package.

No information about when it becomes available. Find more info here.

technorati tags: HP iPAQ Business Manager