TomTom

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TomTom NV
Type Public
Euronext: TOM2
Founded 1991
Headquarters Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Key people Harold Goddijn, Chairman and CEO
Industry ICT / Electronics
Products GPS navigation software
GPS navigation devices
Digital maps
Revenue ▲ €1.74 billion (2007)[1]
Net income ▲ €317 million (2007)[1]
Employees 4000 (2008)
Website www.tomtom.com
TomTom ONE
TomTom ONE
TomTom Navigator 6 on Treo 650
TomTom Navigator 6 on Treo 650

TomTom NV (Euronext: TOM2) is a Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems, including both stand-alone units and software for personal digital assistants, and mobile telephones. It is the leading manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe.[2] TomTom's customer service is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The global slogan for TomTom is "the smart choice in personal navigation". In the United States and Canada, they currently use "Go confidently". The UK slogan is "Find your way the easy way"

In 2008, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas, a digital map maker, for €2.9 billion.

Contents

[edit] Products

TomTom offers two types of products: navigation devices and navigation software for installation on mobile devices. The navigation devices and portable devices with installed software are referred to as units.[3]

TomTom units provide a flying interface with an oblique bird's-eye view of the road, as well as a direct-overhead map view. They use a GPS receiver to show the precise location and provide visual and spoken directions on how to drive to the chosen destination. Certain TomTom systems also integrate with mobile phones using Bluetooth, to show traffic congestion maps or to actually take calls and read aloud SMS messages.

[edit] TomTom GO

The TomTom GO is a "all in one" GPS navigation device. It has a touch screen, speaker, USB port, internal Lithium ion battery, and comes with TomTom Home software. It charges, synchronizes, and updates its data by connecting to a Windows or Mac PC running the TomTom HOME software via USB cable. Some models have Bluetooth transceivers that allow connection to a smartphone. This allows it to make and receive calls. It also allows it to receive traffic and weather updates using the TomTom Plus service on phones with DUN data service.

[edit] TomTom ONE and XL

Various portable models for automobile navigation.

[edit] TomTom RIDER

Portable models for motorcycle and motorscooter users.

[edit] TomTom NAVIGATOR

TomTom Navigator is a GPS navigation software product for Personal digital assistants (PDAs), Palm devices, Pocket PCs, and some smartphones.

Navigator 6 is the latest release of this software. It differs from the previous version Navigator 5 by focusing on touch-screen entry of data. Mobile devices without touch-screen will have to rely on a cursor to input data. The software is available on SD card and DVD.

The DVD version includes a DVD, printed 15 character Product Code, Quick Start Guide, License Agreement, a poster with a picture diagram for setup proceedure of DVD version and SD card version, and an advertisement for TomTom PLUS services. The DVD contains installation software for TomTom Home, software for mobile devices, licenses, manuals, maps, and voices. The software for mobile devices includes CAB files for Palm, PPC, symbian, and UIQ3. The container states that this product is compatible with: ACER N310-B, N311-BW, N35, N50; Asus MyPal A632N, MyPal A636N; Dell AXIM X51, Axim X51v; Eten M600; Fujitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX 720, Pocket LOOX N520; HP iPAQ h1450, h4350, hw6510, hw6515, hw6910, hw6915, hx2190, hx2490, rx1950, rz1710; i-Mate JAM, JAMin, PDA-N, PDA2k; Mio 168, A201, A701, P350; Nokia E50, E61, N80; O2 XDA Exec; Orange SPV M1000, SPV M2000, SPV M3000; Palm Treo 700W, Treo 650; Qtek G100, S100, S110, 9000; T-Mobile MDA compact, MDA III, MDA Pro. NAVIGATOR 6 DVD (software package), TomTom. article no. 1T90.080, part no. 1T90.080S. 

[edit] TomTom HOME

TomTom HOME is a 32-bit PC application that allows synchronization/updates to be sent to the mobile device. The container states that it is compatible with MAC OSX v10.3 and Windows ME/2000/XP (see above reference). After installation it performs an automatic software update. It then has options to choose a device to be associated to and activate the software. A caution is given that the software only allows one device to be associated and the associated device can be changed only after six months since the previous association. TomTom HOME version 2.0 and above is implemented on the Xulrunner platform. With version 2.2, TomTom HOME added a content-sharing platform where users can download and upload content to personalize their device such as voices, start-up images, POI sets, etc.

[edit] TomTom Mobile

Navigation software for mobile phones.

[edit] Services

[edit] TomTom PLUS

The company offers a line of fee-based services under the name TomTom PLUS, which include services to warn drivers about speed cameras, provide weather updates, change voices and provide traffic alerts. Currently the fees are only for European countries. Plus services is free in the US and Canada for the time being and excludes safety cameras.

Traffic data is also available in many parts of Europe and the US via a bluetooth-enabled cell phone with Internet service or an add-on aerial, which picks up RDS data (broadcast on FM radio frequencies) offering traffic information without the requirement for a data connection. The PLUS section of the Tomtom website suffered an outage on August 24th 2007, drawing some criticism.[4]

[edit] TomTom PLUS Compatibility

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TomTom PLUS services are compatible only with specific cell phone models from AT&T Cingular and T-Mobile and requires the purchase of Internet services through that cell phone provider in addition to the purchase a plan from TomTom (where applicable). Traffic services require a license code to enable the subscription.

For example, for the RIDER' model, there are two types of compatibility - Plus Services and Hands-free Calling and Only Hands-free Calling.

TomTom RIDER Compatibility from [1]

Plus Services & Hands-free Calling

  • T Mobile Nokia 3660, Nokia 6600, Nokia 6620, Sony Ericsson T610, Motorola V330*, Motorola V360*, Motorola RAZR V3
  • Cingular Sony Ericsson T637, Nokia 6620, Nokia 7610, Nokia 6230, Nokia 6600, Motorola RAZR 3, Motorola V551, Motorola MPX220, Audiovox SMT 5600**, Motorola ROZR E1**
  • Verizon Motorola V710***

Only Hands-free Calling

  • Cingular: Sony Ericsson S710a, Imate SP3, Imate SP3i, Siemens SX66
  • Verizon: Audiovox XV6600, Motorola E815, LG VX8100, LG VX9800

Hints:

  • 1-Star: Only when configured using the Motorola V551 setup and choosing the T-Mobile III option
  • 2-Stars: Manual settings required
  • 3-Stars: With 5.42 update

The listed devices are recognized and supported by TomTom RIDER. When another device is used, it might be necessary to set up the connection manually. Consult TomTom's Support pages for instructions.

TomTom RIDER 2 Compatibility from [2]

Plus Services & Hands-free Calling

  • T Mobile Nokia 3660, Nokia 6600, Nokia 6620, Sony Ericsson T610, Motorola V330*, Motorola V360*, Motorola RAZR V3
  • Cingular Sony Ericsson T637, Nokia 6620, Nokia 7610, Nokia 6230, Nokia 6600, Motorola RAZR 3, Motorola V551, Motorola MPX220, Audiovox SMT 5600**, Motorola ROZR E1**
  • Verizon Motorola V710***

Only Hands-free Calling

  • Cingular: Sony Ericsson S710a, Imate SP3, Imate SP3i, Siemens SX66
  • Verizon: Audiovox XV6600, Motorola E815, LG VX8100, LG VX9800

Hints:

  • 1-Star: Only when configured using the Motorola V551 setup and choosing the T-Mobile III option
  • 2-Stars: Manual settings required
  • 3-Stars: With 5.42 update

The listed devices are recognized and supported by TomTom RIDER. When another device is used, it might be necessary to set up the connection manually. Consult TomTom's Support pages for instructions.

Compatibility with T-Mobile Cell Phones

For the T-Mobile group of cell phones, only Symbian 60, Series 60 (S60) operating systems work with Plus and hands-free services.

As of now (March 2008), T-Mobile is selling these phones -- which are only Series 40 -- and will never work with the Plus services.

  • 2610 - S40
  • 3555 - S40v3
  • 5300 - S40v2
  • 6086 - S40v2
  • 6103 - S40
  • 6133 - S40
  • 6263 - S40

From the Plus Services & Hands-free Calling above, T-Mobile cell phones are all Series 60 versions with 2 generations:

  • Nokia 3660 - S60v1
  • Nokia 6600 - S60v2
  • Nokia 6620 - S60v2

[edit] Map Share

Newer versions of TomTom devices allow users to create "new" point of interests, correct map errors and share these with TomTom. TomTom in turn will provide most map updates to other users for free. Some of these updates are verified by TomTom and offered as verified entries.

At present, only the options to block/unblock streets, reverse traffic direction, edit street names and add/edit POIs are shared with the community via Map Share. These options appear instantly on the unit they are created on. All other modifications are sent to TomTom and are included in future, paid for, map updates.

[edit] Data Collection

TomTom devices can collect about time taken by a user to travel from Point A to Point B. This information can be optionally uploaded back to TomTom, and is anonymized to protect privacy. TomTom started offering IQ Routes in spring 2008 with the TomTom GO 730 & 930, using this data to calculate the fastest routes based on actual speed and traffic conditions compiled from its customers' travels. [5]

[edit] Tele Atlas Purchase

On 23 July 2007, TomTom made a €2 billion offer for Tele Atlas, a digital map maker, which was accepted by the Tele Atlas board.[6] This was then trumped by a €2.3 billion offer from Cayman Islands-based rival Garmin on 31 October, 2007, effectively initiating a bidding war for Tele Atlas.[7] TomTom responded by upping their bid to €2.9 billion, an offer which was again approved by the board of Tele Atlas.[8] Garmin had been expected to counterbid once again: with Tele Atlas' main global rival Navteq subject to a takeover bid from Nokia, the company had stated that it did not wish both companies to fall into the hands of rivals.[8] However, after striking a content agreement with Navteq through the year 2015, Garmin withdrew its takeover offer, clearing the way for TomTom.[9] On December 4, 2007, TomTom shareholders approved the takeover.[10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Sterk jaar voor TomTom", www.nos.nl/nosjournaal, NOS News, 2007-02-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-21. (Dutch) 
  2. ^ Navigation Device Co. TomTom Raises Bid. Associated Press (2007-11-07). Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  3. ^ TOMTOM Company Profile. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  4. ^ Oates, John (2007-08-24). Bank holiday transport farrago publisher=The Register. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  5. ^ Information Management: TomTom collecting data from GPS Systems
  6. ^ Kanner, Joram; van de Hoef, Marcel. "TomTom Agrees to Acquire Tele Atlas for EU2 Billion", Bloomberg, 2007-07-23. Retrieved on 2007-07-23. 
  7. ^ "Garmin Trumps TomTom Bid for Tele Atlas", Reuters, 2007-10-31. Retrieved on 2007-10-31. 
  8. ^ a b "Digital mapmaker Tele Atlas endorses €2.9 billion TomTom bid", Associated Press, 2007-11-08. Retrieved on 2007-11-09. 
  9. ^ "Garmin Withdraws $3.3B Tele Atlas Bid", Associated Press, 2007-11-16. Retrieved on 2007-11-16. 
  10. ^ Kloet, Steven (2007-12-04). TomTom Holders Approve Takeover of Tele Atlas. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.

[edit] External links

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