By When we originally heard TomTom would be headed to Android we were told we would see it by Summer’s end. Unfortunately, it appears that window has been pushed back. TomTom for Android is being previewed in Berlin today, and one of the representatives mentioned that the navigation app will not be here until October.
That’s not a long wait from now, but it always sucks when a release window is missed. Regardless, at least it’s still coming to the Google Play Store. The one worry I have is with pricing.
The iOS version of TomTom is $60, and for that you only get maps for the US and Canada. That’s a lot to task for when you’re competing with the comparatively cheaper CoPilot and the free Google Maps.
But TomTom’s value is immediately evident with its feature-set, and since it’s too long to sum up here I’ll direct you to the iTunes store to take a look for yourself. In the meantime, Google Maps and I are getting along just fine. Read on for full press details.
BERLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TomTom previews its new navigation application for Android at IFA today. TomTom navigation, map and traffic technologies will be incorporated into the new app.
“We aim to make TomTom content and services available to as many devices and platforms as we can”
TomTom’s on-board maps, IQ Routes and HD Traffic will give Android users the freshest map, the fastest routes and the most accurate arrival times. The application is set for release in October 2012.
“We aim to make TomTom content and services available to as many devices and platforms as we can,” says Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director at TomTom. “Bringing TomTom navigation to Android smartphones is, therefore, a significant milestone for us.”
This announcement follows the recent release of the TomTom Hands-free Car Kit for Smartphones. The kit allows users to charge their phone and mount it in clear view. An in-built speaker then delivers the highest quality audio for loud and clear navigation instructions and calls.
More details, pricing and availability will be announced closer to the launch date.
Google Nav is legit already
Two words: Google Maps
One word: Free
Yea, Google Maps is unstoppable. So long as it’s not on iOS I wouldn’t buy an iPhone again.
The iTunes store reviews also mention you have to have Facebook login to search for places. TomTom is not my “friend.” I don’t “Like” them to find things. Not going to “Hangout” with them.
Requiring a Facebook account is a deal breaker for me too. don’t have one, don’t want one.
iOS version of Tom Tom for Android?
Why
The few extra features TomTom might have is not worth $60, I’ll stick with Google.
I don’t think anything will take me away from Google Nav.
I have an in dash TomTom device now, and I’m not impressed. No way I’m going to pay to have it on Android when I can have Google Maps for free!
Wow Wow..
How can they compete with Free? Even if Google Maps wasn’t Free, It will still have better mapping solutions than tom tom
I think Tom Tom gets away with the $60 price tag on iOS because iPhone doesn’t have turn by turn navigation. when it comes to Android, I see it being much cheeper than $60 just because its a different market on Android. The max I would pay is $10 and I’d have to be blown away with a free trial. After all Google maps has served me just fine all this time and for free.
I had a TomTom–I hated it! I needed to get to an airport (that’s been there forever!) and it took me to a dead end in a really bad part of town. I was so glad when I got an Android and google maps!
…why would I pay exorbitant amounts of money for something I already have?
What do I look like, someone stuck with an iPhone?
First off, cloud based nav can’t replace device based. Why?
Line of sight to a cell tower is a requirement.
Unlimited data plan is required.
Roaming data will kill you. (You know there are other countries, right?)
Unless a nav system supports full offline and full precaching abilities it’s just a nice toy, free or not.
The competition on android isn’t really too sharp, so i think Tomtom can be a hit. If it’s anything like TT for PPC was, it beats the crap out of the competition.
I have Navigon Europe and took it for a spin this summer… Not all that pleased. My money is on Tomtom, at least until I’ve tried it.
but tomtom only has maps for US and Canada
Umm… you can download maps in Google these days ya know… I have the entire DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) metroplex (1407 sq miles and 6,000,000 people… well, I only have about 80% of that, because I cut out a few counties I never go to…) locally on my phone. Seeing as how I drive there 99.9% of the time, I’m covered. If I were to go on a road trip, I’d likely download the maps of the areas I was traveling to as well. So unless I get captured by the Chinese and left on the Great Wall, I’m pretty much good with no data connection.
Yes you can download up to 85megs of map data to Google maps, but I think you’re missing the point. The road network data can’t be downloaded and routing is done on Googles servers, not in your phone. No Nav when offline.
And Tomtom is not a Mapping software, it’s a routing software. Most of us freeloading Google Maps cheapskates haven’t even used a proper GPS Nav. Yes I said us, I use it too, its free. But it’s not a proper GPS Nav system until it’s fully offline capable. I have used a couple of those too.
I haven’t used Tomtom for iPhone and I have no idea really if Tomtom will deliver. They may have lost their edge, but as I said. TT for PPC was actually really nice, and this was close to ten years ago! I used it on a 640Mhz Dell PPC. Good route planning. Really snappy rerouting. High frame rate and smooth interpolation in between GPS positions making it easy to follow directions on the map. I even used it on high speed rally raid like motorbike riding on gravel roads in the woods as a “co driver”, to get a heads up on where the road turned to behind the next crest or bend.
Chances are Tomtom will hold back though, to keep from undermining their own GPS Nav devices… It sure seems like Garmin (Navigon) are…
I have a Tom Tom in my car. Let me tell you. If their app is anything like the unit in my car, I will pass. Tom Tom absolutely sucks at giving directions. It always directs me to take longer routes and just last week, I was going to the Bronx Zoo and when it said I was at my destination, I was more than 8 miles away from the zoo. I selected the Zoo as a Navigate to POI (Point of interest) figuring that since it was such a famous place it had to have the proper location. It wasnt even close. True, I havent updated the map since I bought it a few years ago because I refuse to pay for something that should be free, but come on…. Unless the Zoo packed up all the animals and made a move in the last couple of years, 8 miles is too far to be a simple error to where the entrance to a parking lot is. Tom Tom sucks and until they get their act together, Google Maps is the way to go so my Droid Razr is my stand in for turn by turn navigation
I’ll stick to the free Google maps. Hasn’t failed me yet so why waste money on a crappy navigation system. If anything id buy a Garmin app. Tom tom sucks