The Tele Atlas takeover by TomTom will cause at least one noticeable result. From the fourth quarter of 2008 all Map Share corrections will be included in the Tele Atlas mapping material. This means that all TomTom motorists, who use the option of correcting the maps on their sat nav now effectively and directly add to the quality of the Tele Atlas maps. Not only TomTom users benefit from this, but also owners of eg. Mio sat nav devices which also use Tele Atlas maps.
Result
"As promised, the transfer of this feedback marks the first tangible deliverable following TomTom's acquisition of Tele Atlas," said Harold Goddijn, CEO of the new combined entity. "It will ensure that everybody can benefit from this community feedback, and the amount we have received is staggering. On average, by the end of 2008, if you drive anywhere for one hour with a Tele Atlas map enhanced by Map Share feedback, your route will be influenced by more than 20 corrections."
Quality
"It is not just the quantity, but the quality of the Map Share feedback that is impressive," said Bill Henry, CEO of Tele Atlas. "Validating and integrating large amounts of data is what we've been experts at for 25 years. But these are not just any corrections, these are issues actual customers cared about enough to report. Tele Atlas has always been at the forefront in terms of industry innovations. For example, we invented and deploy the largest fleet of high-tech map-detection vehicles in the world. Now we will be the first company to use real-time input from the world's largest navigation community to deliver what we believe will be the best and freshest maps and dynamic content products to all our partners. I am particularly happy that we'll be able to get the first results in the hands of our partners this year already."
Map Share
Using Map Share, users of TomTom sat navs can make their own corrections to maps which have got out of sync with reality, and get more so every day due to the continuously changing road network. TomTom analysed the most common map frustrations and enabled drivers to easily and instantly correct map errors directly on their portable navigation device.
It only takes the motorist a few taps on the screen to edit Points of Interest (POIs), block or unblock streets, change the direction of traffic, edit street names and add, as well as change, turn restrictions and speed limits. These changes take effect on the device immediately, and more importantly, other TomTom users can also benefit from this because all these corrections are being shared through TomTom's own desktop software suite: TomTom HOME. New improvements are available almost every day, and are always free of charge.
TomTom Map Share is available in 30 countries in five continents.
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Posted on: June 17, 2008 - 13:17 hour
By:
Bruce
So nice to think we've contributed towards the value of TomTom's maps. Wonder if everyone who contributed will get a discount?
Posted on: June 17, 2008 - 13:55 hour
By:
mrsmith
I dont really have an issue with using Mapshare as it only takes a second to make a correction, its not as if we are spending a huge amount of time doing it. Maybe if I was making corrections every single day and taking time out of my private life..then i'd probably be cheeky and ask for discount but I dont think anyone will ever get to that point! We Human Beings are only ever motivated by money....what a world this is! lol
Posted on: June 17, 2008 - 22:18 hour
By:
Wishlist
QUOTE if you drive anywhere for one hour with a Tele Atlas map enhanced by Map Share feedback, your route will be influenced by more than 20 corrections."
Just goes to show that even after all this time the maps are still crap. Still, onwards and upwards. Bruce is right though, they get us to "give" them the info, and they sell it back to us. Baaaaaaaah
Posted on: June 17, 2008 - 23:51 hour
By:
stingray
QUOTE (mrsmith @ Jun 17 2008, 12:55) 
We Human Beings are only ever motivated by money....
and TT are not?!!!
Posted on: June 18, 2008 - 07:48 hour
By:
pilsit
QUOTE (Wishlist @ Jun 17 2008, 22:18)
[...] they get us to "give" them the info, and they sell it back to us. Baaaaaaaah [...]
But you wouldn't drive long with *only* your map shares
--pilsit
Posted on: June 18, 2008 - 10:28 hour
By:
Wishlist
QUOTE (pilsit @ Jun 18 2008, 06:48)
But you wouldn't drive long with *only* your map shares
--pilsit
No ....but I have already bought the map a few times that do not have the mapshares on. Now I have modified the map I have paid for, and I have to pay for it again. No issues with a fee for the admin or the outlay for a new map but there is no reward for all the users that have provided the data that they sell back to us.
Posted on: June 18, 2008 - 10:42 hour
By:
pilsit
QUOTE (Wishlist @ Jun 18 2008, 10:28)
No ....but I have already bought the map a few times that do not have the mapshares on. Now I have modified the map I have paid for, and I have to pay for it again. No issues with a fee for the admin or the outlay for a new map but there is no reward for all the users that have provided the data that they sell back to us.
Look at it a bit differently.
Before this announcement, you were happy to provide TA with the corrections you made, and you did agree to the fact that these corrections would be included in a later release of the map - which BTW you would also have bought!
Now the announcement tells that the corrections you made will be available in a faster way - instead of waiting TA to integrate them in a later release, they would integrate them directly in the next release.
Now you complain that you need to buy your corrections: nothing changed! apart that your corrections will be available!
TT is now managing the corrections to bring them to the users, relies on the users to provide feedback, and sells the maps cheaper.
If you and many others would not participate in the mapshare, TT would need to send off people checking for the maps: takes time, resources, and costs more!
So in fact, you pay the same, but get a map with the corrections. Isn't that good?!
BTW: you don't need to buy the map immediately, you can also use mapshare during the 12 monthes between.
--pilsit
Posted on: June 18, 2008 - 13:15 hour
By:
Bruce
S'pose so
but I still like having a stab at TomTom!
It makes me feel better
Posted on: June 19, 2008 - 01:18 hour
By:
Wishlist
QUOTE (pilsit @ Jun 18 2008, 09:42)
Now you complain that you need to buy your corrections: nothing changed! apart that your corrections will be available!
No and no again, I am not complaining about buying the maps again as I said I have no issues with an admin fee etc, I AM saying that we get no reward for providing them with our data which they then sell back to us. If we did not send them the data they would indeed as you say have to pay lots to people that do what we do for them for free. And I don’t see the cost of the maps getting any cheaper recently do you? It should work both ways in that those that are providing the map data get something back as a thanks. At the moment it’s not a give and take situation at all, just a financial take and take.
Posted on: June 19, 2008 - 10:36 hour
By:
bensonboo
QUOTE (Wishlist @ Jun 18 2008, 23:18)
QUOTE (pilsit @ Jun 18 2008, 09:42)
Now you complain that you need to buy your corrections: nothing changed! apart that your corrections will be available!
Yes this is an important point, where is Tele Atlas incentive to improve their maps? If they know that they can get away with 'a bit more coverage' or a few improvements here and there, knowing that the end users will 'fill in all the gaps' using Mapshare, then that is a good situation for Tele Atlas no?
Posted on: July 23, 2008 - 22:17 hour
By:
martinp13
Maybe TeleAtlas can take the money they would spend updating maps and use it towards other new and cool features. Lunacy, I know...
03-07
June 17, 2008 - 11:30 h
