TomTom to offer Mapquest-branded version of TomTomGo 300

MapQuest has built up such a reputation for providing accuracy-challenged directions that we know drivers who've dusted off the old paper maps they thought they'd never have to consult again (you know, those ones you can never refold properly once you've opened them). But apparently the brand is still well-known enough that GPS maker TomTom has partnered with the AOL subsidiary to produce a MapQuest-branded version of its TomTomGo 300 navigator. The $699 Mapquest device will be identical to the 300 — except that it'll always choose the most convoluted, least efficient route to your destination.

[mehool @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Actually mapquest has worked for me 9 times out of 10.... and I live in New Jersey, no easy task for any map site/software.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Mapquest is a really dumb name.

[StuBee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

This makes sense. They (mapquest and tomtom both use Teleatlas as their map source).
I've been a happy tomtom5 PDA GPS user for a month now, very slick gui.

[don @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

mapquest sux, yahoo maps pwns... also, the satellite overlay on google maps mmmm

[Elias G. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Sadly, MapQuest is merely just a well-known brand name.

Their site can no longer find addresses unless they're perfectly typed, etc.

Google Maps always finds things these days.

-- Elias

[Evan Adams @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I find mapquest finds places better than google maps. Google and mapquest will get me to the area but mapquest seems to get the smaller streets and new developments for me in CA.

[m @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yahoo maps sucks, confusing directions, have gotten lost twice with Yahoo. hardly have issues with Mapquest.

[Davey A @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

TomTom seemes such a wonderful product.
Unless they go wrong , then it is so frustrating trying to contact them and get things sorted.
From my experience their customer service is absolutely non-existant and I would warn any potential purchaser of their products to consider that once the product is bought they are likely to feel left on their own in times of need.
Sorry Tomtom but these people need to know.

[Dustin Tarditi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Google maps a re ideal, adn you can 'grab and drag' the map along a route very smoothly... my beef with it is that it's not personalized yet... I have a few favorite destinations/origins saved in MyYahoo and it's easy to get directions anywhere from Yahoo maps. I've found the directions to be pretty good overall - much better than mapquest.

Point-to-point driving is much trickier than simply showing a current location or coordinate on a map overlay... it's also pretty useless without fresh updates regarding new roads/closures/traffic, also. Tying into things liks subscribed traffic updates will be key to the next gen systems... as well as being able to send destinations to your automotive nav system from your PC (memory card or something) or phone/pda via bluetooth or something.

Convergence, convergence, convergence!

[WOV @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

You know, after having various components of the car PC GPS stolen out of my car frequently enough, I turned to the ADC paper maps in the interim, (the big book kind you can get at gas stations,) and they're actually very helpful and easy to use...the maps are damn good, the indexing system makes a lot of sense, and you can see enough of the context around a street to figure out how to get there...

[vera @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Mapquest is totally unreliable, that is my experience.
Just now after being lost for over an hour trying to find 800 Virginia Avenue W, Huntigton, WV where the Holiday Inn is suppose to be located, I found out that it was in the opposite direction on 3rd Avenue.
Then the hotel told me that yesterday, somebodyelse who used mapquest had the same experience and he was not the first.
So I say, shape up or ship out.
I am never again going to use you. I will have a better chance of finding my destination, by looking at the stars.
A very irate former client.

[vera @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I find mapquest unreliable, specially after being given the wong address for the Holiday in downton Huntigton, WV. It is located not in 600 Virginia Avenue W, but 800 3rd Avenue.
The hotel told us that last night another guest had the same problem and the week before another one and they do not understnad why mapquest is so unreliable.
Also your estimated driving time is totally off. Maybe if you were lucky to be in an empty Autobahn in Germany you could make that time.
Please shape up or ship out.

[ColdSlapOfReality @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"I find mapquest unreliable, specially after being given the wong address for the Holiday in downton Huntigton, WV. It is located not in 600 Virginia Avenue W, but 800 3rd Avenue."

Err... MapQuest works by mapping an address you provide. If you mean that MapQuest Find It (a yellow pages type directory service) gave you the wrong address, you should know that the listings in Find It are provided by the businesses listed. So if the entire address was wrong, the person who listed it goofed.... not MapQuest.



"The hotel told us [...] they do not understnad why mapquest is so unreliable."

If they haven't bothered to fix their own self-posted listing information, they should probably not be pointing fingers at anyone else, huh?

"Also your estimated driving time is totally off. Maybe if you were lucky to be in an empty Autobahn in Germany you could make that time."

Maybe if you didn't drive like my grandmother (right turn signal on, in the left lane, 10 mph under the posted speed limit, white-knuckle grip on the wheel, with the hem of your house coat hanging out of the car door), then you might just see that the MapQuest drive time estimates are pretty accurate.

"Please shape up or ship out."

Ditto.

[ColdSlapOfReality @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"I find mapquest unreliable, specially after being given the wong address for the Holiday in downton Huntigton, WV. It is located not in 600 Virginia Avenue W, but 800 3rd Avenue."

Err... MapQuest works by mapping an address you provide. If you mean that MapQuest Find It (a yellow pages type directory service) gave you the wrong address, you should know that the listings in Find It are provided by the businesses listed. So if the entire address was wrong, the person who listed it goofed.... not MapQuest.



"The hotel told us [...] they do not understnad why mapquest is so unreliable."

If they haven't bothered to fix their own self-posted listing information, they should probably not be pointing fingers at anyone else, huh?

"Also your estimated driving time is totally off. Maybe if you were lucky to be in an empty Autobahn in Germany you could make that time."

Maybe if you didn't drive like my grandmother (right turn signal on, in the left lane, 10 mph under the posted speed limit, white-knuckle grip on the wheel, with the hem of your house coat hanging out of the car door), then you might just see that the MapQuest drive time estimates are pretty accurate.

"Please shape up or ship out."

Ditto.