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TomTom iPhone app reaches North America

updated 09:30 am EDT, Mon August 17, 2009

 

TomTom app in N. America


After a release in other regions this weekend, TomTom at last debuted the North American version of its iPhone GPS app. The title mimics the turn-by-turn navigation of a dedicated GPS unit, displaying directions on a quasi-3D view alongside other information such as the estimated travel times. The North American edition covers "99.9 percent" of the US and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

TomTom's navigation is distinguished by features such as IQ Routes, which provide different directions based on the time of day and typical traffic conditions. Some iPhone-specific options include pinching to zoom, landscape and portrait views, and picking destinations from a phone's contact list. When searching through points of interest, users can also both call a business and navigate to it without quitting first. TomTom's software costs $100, and requires iPhone 3.0 firmware along with an iPhone 3G or 3GS.



By Electronista Staff

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iPhone, GPS, iPhone apps, TomTom

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Previous Comments

  1. njfuzzy

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2001

    +8
    08/17, 09:50am | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    Price Fail

    A software-only solution for the same price as a dedicated device with more features? Whoops!

    I would have paid $99 for the app plus the hardware kit, or no more than $50 for just the software. I was excited about this product, but the price point lost me as a customer.


  1. ApeInTheShell

    Senior User

    Joined: Nov 2002

    +3
    08/17, 10:05am | report spam | reply

    I know this

    I know this! I can do this! It's UNIX!


  1. Athens

    Addicted to MacNN

    Joined: Jan 2003

    +2
    08/17, 10:18am | report spam | reply

    $100.00!!!!!

    F*$&^ THAT, Epic Fail!

    The most I would have been willing to pay is 20.00. I'll continue to use my non TomTom Car GPS.


  1. b9robot

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2009

    +1
    08/17, 10:29am | report spam | reply

    To expensive!

    To expensive without the car mount. You can just buy a regular GPS with all the hardware for that price.


  1. ibugv4

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2003

    -3
    08/17, 10:32am | report spam | reply

    $99 is a steal

    Most GPS units cost a lot more. You also spend $80 to update their map data; $99 for the program data is a steal.


  1. slider

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Oct 1999

    +1
    08/17, 10:41am | report spam | reply

    A Steal?

    Most GPS units include the hardware. All TomTom has to do is provide the software. The kit is bonus. I'll wait until I see the reviews on this. I was really interested. I too had expected the app and mount for ~$100. I liked the mount because is was a great car solution not only for the GPS, but charging and handsfree. Oh well.


  1. sammaffei

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2004

    +3
    08/17, 10:52am | report spam | reply

    $99 are they kidding?

    You can get a factory refurbished unit with a warranty from amazon for $80. Might buy for $50, but definitely not worth $99 with no voice.


  1. simdude

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2004

    +3
    08/17, 11:52am | report spam | reply

    huh?

    Is this really $100 WITHOUT the hardware mount/charger? It doesn't sound like a good deal but before criticizing, we need to see some reviews.

    Yes, you CAN get a dedicated GPS for under $100. But they also have GPS's for $500-$800. Obviously, there is a wide range. If this software with a hardware mount ends up at $150 or so and is more comparable to the $500 units, it would be a good deal. There are already software GPS solutions on the App store for about $79 that are software only so this would give us a range. If this solution is no better than what is out there and it's just more expensive, Tom Tom won't have many buyers.


  1. cutmoney

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2008

    +5
    08/17, 12:17pm | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    A little expensive

    I've owned a couple of different TomTom units as well as the software for my Treo 650 (which I quickly sold upon iPhone release years ago). Let me first start by saying I was one of those who have been holding out, eagerly awaiting the TomTom iPhone release. I do love TomTom but it is definitely true that this app is a bit expensive. I just received an email from CompUSA selling a Navigon 3.5" GPS with window mount and text-to-speech for only $59.99.

    Now, I understand the benefits of having an all-in-one solution, but there are also negatives as well. First of all, the fact that you can't do anything else on your iPhone when you are using it for navigation, such as movies, games, running apps, etc. Second, I now have to purchase a car charger if I want to use TomTom (since the GPS sucks down the battery), or somehow wait until the car kit comes out from TomTom. This is yet another expense which I wouldn't have with a stand-alone unit. Finally, the fact that for $99 this comes with no dash mount or cradle of any kind, that's something we have purchase separate, or again, wait until the car kit is released at some unknown date in the future.

    As some have mentioned, it would be worth it if it rivaled the high end GPS units out there, but the software is really quite basic. No text-to-speech, traffic, or other unique features. Really, the only thing that makes this software comparable to the high end GPS units are the features like bluetooth, audio/video capability, internal storage, photos, etc. Oh wait, those are all features of the iPhone which we bought from Apple, not TomTom. Now, I'm not saying that I'm sure that I wont purchase this software, but I am very hesitant now, especially not knowing the cost of the car kit (which should really be included for this price). I'm seriously considering switching from being a long time TomTom user to a Navigon user, who knows what TomTom's going to price the car kit at after the app's price point!


  1. ibugv4

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2003

    -5
    08/17, 12:25pm | report spam | reply

    OMG stand alone is cheape

    But you'll end up replacing the whole thing for another $100 when its integrated, non-replacable battery dies. Much like the iPhone, except you can keep using the TomTom software on the next one.


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