The weeks just before the start of CeBIT (March 15th, Hanover, Germany) are the ideal time for speculation as to what may be expected in the very near future. Because the question is not if companies like TomTom, Garmin and Mio will release new products, but rather what, the new products will be. One of those rumours concerns the Dutch navigational specialist TomTom.
Melting pot
According to (still) unofficial reports, TomTom will release a completely new type of navigational system. This device will be a melting pot of existing personal navigational devices and mobile phones with navigational capabilities, which would mean it would be possible to insert a SIM card into the device and use it as a completely independent mobile phone. As opposed to the current TomTom GO which needs to be connected to a separate mobile phone via Bluetooth before it can phone out or be contacted.
The device is said to be equipped with a 2.8 inch touch screen with a 320 x 240 pixel resolution. Via this screen, the user will not only be able to operate the well known navigational capabilities, but also the new telephone functionality, which is embedded in the new version 7 TomTom software.
Operator
Another new step is that TomTom is planning on becoming a mobile phone operator. Using already existing GSM networks, TomTom will be able to offer tons of new services to their customers. It's expected that the Vodafone network will be used for this, because both companies collaborated last year working towards the realisation of a new traffic information service, a service of which a lot is expected in the upcoming months.
Of course, we try our hardest to get aforementioned 'rumours' officially confirmed.
Other news:
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 14:18 hour
By:
Perception
So we now have smart phones that can do navigating, and now there will also be PND's that can phone? This is just silly!
And besides, won't it also become very easy to track a users's whereabouts when PND's start talking back to the network (albeit via GSM?)?
Of course I have no idea how this will be implemented, but I can't say I believe this is a big novelty nor a big step forward. I expect more from TomTom.
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 14:19 hour
By:
Bart
Don't worry... I'm sure other new things will be announced apart from just this.
At least: I hope so.
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 16:39 hour
By:
daadoodoo
The interesting piece in all this would be if tomtom began offering free gprs connection to their services. That would mean free usage of tomtom buddies, updates, speed cameras...
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 16:53 hour
By:
squigles
For this concept to take off for Tom Tom, they're going to have to have a killer app or idea. Phones already have the capabilities of using Tom Tom software
so Tom Tom really have to produce something that is going to take the market by the balls, so to speak :!:
squigles
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 16:58 hour
By:
Perception
QUOTE (daadoodoo @ Feb 23 2007, 16:39) 
The interesting piece in all this would be if tomtom began offering free gprs connection to their services. That would mean free usage of tomtom buddies, updates, speed cameras...
Free? We're talking about TomTom here, aren't we?
I thought this bit was interesting:
" It’s expected that the Vodafone network will be used for this, because both companies collaborated last year working towards the realisation of a new traffic information service, a service of which a lot is expected in the upcoming months."
Does this mean that the new TMC system will be obselete?
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 18:34 hour
By:
Tomjohn
It will be nice if they also integrated game too. So you now have 3 in 1 (PND, GSM Phone, Games). This will definitely be the ultimate portable nav.
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 19:02 hour
By:
Bart
QUOTE (Billy Nomates @ Feb 23 2007, 18:26)
I thought this bit was interesting:
" It’s expected that the Vodafone network will be used for this, because both companies collaborated last year working towards the realisation of a new traffic information service, a service of which a lot is expected in the upcoming months."
Does this mean that the new TMC system will be obselete?
Not really. TMC will be less accurate, but on the other hand, it will also remain free, which I doubt the new service will be.
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 19:40 hour
By:
daadoodoo
QUOTE (Billy Nomates @ Feb 23 2007, 18:26)
I thought this bit was interesting:
" It’s expected that the Vodafone network will be used for this, because both companies collaborated last year working towards the realisation of a new traffic information service, a service of which a lot is expected in the upcoming months."
Does this mean that the new TMC system will be obselete?
oh well, not free, but cheaper. Most (all?) companies offer free access to their automatic answer machines, some sites, e-mail... we already pay for gprs services to tomtom, but they aren't used much by people due to the gprs connection pricing.
Bart said
"Not really. TMC will be less accurate, but on the other hand, it will also remain free, which I doubt the new service will be."
Who wants a traffic information service that is out of date and inaccurate? That would be like having a sat nav with out of date maps and inaccuracies - whoops! sorry that is a bad argument isn't it.
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 22:34 hour
By:
Bart
QUOTE (Billy Nomates @ Feb 23 2007, 22:16)
Bart said
"Not really. TMC will be less accurate, but on the other hand, it will also remain free, which I doubt the new service will be."
Who wants a traffic information service that is out of date and inaccurate? That would be like having a sat nav with out of date maps and inaccuracies - whoops! sorry that is a bad argument isn't it.
I never said TMC is inaccurate. I said it's
less accurate. There's a difference. The current systems, TMC and Traffic are the best that's currently possible. The are equal to each other because they use the same data.
This new system will grab it's data from a more accurate source than TMC or traffic currently does. That means it will be more accurate, if only because it will cover more roads. That doesn't make TMC inaccurate.
Following your own example: current digital maps are more accurate than the ones 5 years ago. This doesn't make these older maps inaccurate, just less accurate. It's still not 100% accurate though, and these traffic systems won't ever be either.
Sorry
Posted on: February 23, 2007 - 23:34 hour
By:
angel13
QUOTE (Tomjohn @ Feb 23 2007, 18:34)
It will be nice if they also integrated game too. So you now have 3 in 1 (PND, GSM Phone, Games). This will definitely be the ultimate portable nav.
Just what every driver needs during those long boring drives a phone and games to play!
I think I'll start taking the train.
GPS - GSM - GAMES Deja vu.. Wasnt that the Gismondo!
Hmm, Didnt that use Voda GPRS for its network connection!!!!
Maybe TomTom bought the bankrupt firm and are now going to try and sell us updated Gizmondos!
All it needs is a nice little tomtom badge
02-09
February 23, 2007 - 13:05 h
