Navx

TomTom HOME 2.2 Released with Content Sharing

Exciting News : TomTom HOME 2.2  has been released today ! After mapshare, this feature will allow users to share their own content and it will also allow :

• User content creation 
• Easy content download 
• Voting – to see what the community thinks is hot and what’s not.
• User generated content shows up under the list of TomTom content.

The specific content that can be shared are the following : POI’s and proximity warning tones,Routes/itineraries, Voices, Car icons, Start up and suspend pictures, Map overlays/imagery, Color schemes, Arrival sounds, Speed warning sounds, Ringtones, Incoming message tones.    

· T TTomTom HOME 2.2 will be available in both a Windows and Mac release throughout the day.

After Netherlands, TomTom HD Traffic in Germany with Vodafone Germany

As you can see in this post, we had called it a "big news" when TomTom announced its premium traffic service in Netherlands with TomTom XL HD, a connected GPS that provides more descriptive and better traffic information. And today TomTom announced an exclusive partnership with Vodafone Germany that will bring TomTom High Definition (HD) Traffic to Germany,  in the second half of 2008. With this partnership, traffic information service of TomTom will be available to 50% of their European customers by the end of 2008, we are looking forward to have it also in France !

More info on GPSBusiness !

technorati tags: TomTom XL HD Traffic Information 

TomTom and Google Maps work together to send business info to TomTom users

TomTom is teaming up with Google Maps so that users can search for and send business addresses directly from the Google Maps’ website to TomTom devices.

In fact, Google Maps local search pages have expanded their ‘Send to’ feature with the option ‘Send to GPS’. With one click TomTom users can benefit from this service without needing to download complicated zip files. The selected information is then transferred to the TomTom device when the device is connected to the Internet via TomTom HOME.  Drivers can then navigate to their new destination, as well as view the location on the map of the TomTom device or save it as a ‘favorite’ on the device for later use. This is really cool !

See the video below for more information :

technorati tags: tomtom google business info gps navigation

TomTom ONE HD - Networked Traffic Solution

Big News : TomTom has announced its new premium traffic service in Netherlands with the new TomTom XL HD, a connected GPS that will provide more descriptive and better traffic information.

TomTom’s new High Definition Traffic uses anonymously collected and processed traffic data generated by the movement patterns of mobile phones in cars, via Vodafone’s Dutch GSM network and third party information provided by traffic authorities and road operators.

Users can receive up to five times more traffic updates so they are better informed about the traffic situation on their route and receive more accurate travel and arrival times.

The service will be in cooperation with Vodaphone, and will carry a 10 Euro (~$15) per month subscription fee. 

ps. The TomTom ONE XL HD Traffic is available in shops in the Netherlands in the course of November 2007. The price  is 399 Euro.Third party information provided by traffic authorities and road operators

Find more info on TomTom Nederland.

technorati tags: TomTom premium traffic service 

TomTom One XL. S just for USA

Just a quick post for the new TomTom ONE XL. S launched today for USA.It's basically the same ONE XL but it's also the first product in the TomTom ONE XL range to offer text-to-speech technology, enabling street names and places to be read aloud as part of the spoken navigation instructions.   (Also TomTom Map Share and  "HELP ME!" features too -on a 4.3 inch screen.)

technorati tags: TomTom GPS navigation 

TomTom to Buy TeleAtlas: $2.7 Billion

TomTom announced that it has agreed to acquire Tele Atlas, the second largest mapping data provider behind NAVTEQ, for $2.77 billion:  A surprising move and also very smart strategy for TomTom, whose entire GPS line-up is powered by Tele Atlas mapping data. 

According to Harold Goddijn, the Chief Executive Officer of TomTom, the navigation industry is going to change dramatically in the next few years as end customers will give ever increasing importance to intelligent routing and continuously updated maps. By integrating customer feedback (streets, POIs, traffic) into the Tele Atlas map manufacturing process, TomTom can nicely integrate all the data in TeleAtlas data base. It will be also possible for TomTom to  supply all companies improved maps for their PNDs, wireless handsets, in-car systems, internet services and in-house routing services.

So this acquisition makes a lot of sense:  access to a great source of data for TomTom,and also access to the automotive market and customer feedback integrated on the mapshare applications of TeleAtlas. But what about the issues ?  With Google rumored to be looking at NAVTEQ with bedroom eyes, does it mean that only Navteq remains independent (for the moment)? Is Google really planning to acquire NAVTEQ ? Other PND manufacturers won't accept to buy TeleAtlas data anymore ? Answers will be coming soon.

See the press release, and find more info here and there.

technorati tags: TomTom TeleAtlas GPS navigation maps 

TomTom Patent Discovered - Live Video Overlay?

Click on the picture below :

What is this ? It's a an interesting patent filed by TomTom last year that has been discovered in the records of the European Patent Office.

The device marries a live in-car video feed overlaid with navigation data so that you get a 3D map on top of an actual real world view! Yes, it's a sort of  "we might do this next year or the year after : anyway we have patented, we'll do it before anyone" type thing from TomTom.

To see some pictures and discuss about it, click here. More info here, and see the original source on  PocketInfo.nl

technorati tags: TomTom GPS navigation patent 

TomTom, Vodafone travel system

TomTom and Vodafone UK announced that they will develop a new traffic information system that will deliver superior travel time information the United Kingdom.
Under the agreement, TomTom's solution will use information from the Vodafone UK network to provide accurate, real-time information on the speed and direction of cars travelling on major roads across the UK. Details of the service will be made available at launch which is expected to be in the first half of 2008. All current and future TomTom users will be able to benefit from the service, once it is available. The solution will also be available for road authorities and businesses, who may use it for dynamic traffic control management and improved fleet management.

technorati tags: TomTom Vodafone traffic info

TomTom Buys Horizon Patent Portfolio

TomTom announced that it has acquired the world-wide patent portfolio of Horizon Navigation Inc which has been a leader in the design of vehicle navigation systems for eighteen years. The company developed original equipment navigation solutions for General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Porsche, and Nissan. TomTom said Horizon agreed to provide US-based R&D to assist TomTom's development teams and will continue to develop its own software products. See Forbes for more info.

technorati tags: TomTom Horizon Navigation navigation systems

TomTom hits 10 million navigation product

An important milestone in TomTom's history : The world's largest navigation solutions provider announced that it has sold its 10 millionth navigation product ! TomTom, leader in this fast growing market has made over one million users part of the world's biggest satellite navigation community and since the introduction of TomTom HOME, many users have accessed and registered for TomTom's entire range of content, maps and services.

Here is the portfolio of best selling navigation products and market-leading services of TomTom :

• PNDs : TomTom GO range (TomTom ONE, ONE XL and RIDER)
• TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDA and Smartphone users.
• TomTom PLUS providing real time informations like weather reports, updates on road conditions, new maps and the TomTom Buddies feature.
• TomTom HOME, the free software application to manage and transfer content
• TomTom WORK which combines outstanding communication and smart
  navigation technology
• In-car GPS solutions to automobile manufacturers
• Complementary accessories including carry cases, head sets and mounting kits

See the press release here.

edit : Sunday Times published its annual “Sunday Times richest 1000” in the United Kingdom. Football and music are not anymore the best way to make you rich in a few years: it's GPS navigation market :-) Why? Because Harold Goddijn and Corinne Goddijn-Vigreux, two of the four founders of TomTom are making it to the list, and they are already in the 65th rank. Their wealth is estimated by the Sunday Times at £1 billion ($US2 billion). Each of them own 14.24% of the company and TomTom's revenue climbed from €7.8 million to €1.3 billion in five years.

technorati tags: TomTom GPS navigation PND