TomTom developing iPhone GPS module?

Here's a fresh Apple rumor in the run-up to MacWorld: a TomTom GPS module for the iPhone. We just received this supposed photographic "evidence" of said device from a Dutch tipster. Our take? Might be, might not. TomTom is a Dutch company and a righteous, straight-talkin' Dutchman would never tell such a fib, would he? On the other hand, that device is clearly not in a car heading to Rotterdam. Still, it could be a route demo and that stretch of highway (A13/E19) is a favorite for internal TomTom validation studies. Surely a move towards GPS is a logical next step for Apple -- particularly after that little VW concept. And with Apple on the verge of opening the iPhone to third party developers, well, anything goes, eh?

[Michael @ Dec 12th 2007 8:30AM]

This needs to happen YESTERDAY. I've been dying for a GPS add-on since June.

[Jason @ Dec 12th 2007 9:12AM]

but then how will Apple get a commission every time you need maps?

[pd @ Dec 12th 2007 11:30AM]

Go get a HTC Phone (like Tilt) of Blackberry.
There are tons of phones that have GPS built in.
I am using Atnt Tilt with TomTom6 installed already.

[moo083 @ Dec 12th 2007 7:11PM]

Jason: Commision? Why would Apple get commision for Maps? The bandwidth is already paid for, there are no ads, and if you are talking about searching for businesses, I really don't think it works that way.

[Gian @ Dec 12th 2007 8:34AM]

Very cool. I'd happily buy one.

[tmark rushworth @ Dec 12th 2007 8:35AM]

shouldnt need this now google are doing gps on their maps from your mobile signal no gps needed! and as iphone users have unlimited data ... what more is needed?

[Jeff C @ Dec 12th 2007 8:50AM]

If you've never used TomTom and only Google Maps, you don't know what you're missing... The main two things are route recalculation and heading-up as opposed to north-up navigation. The triangulation feature that you mention is great as long as you don't mind the accuracy of a ~1700 yard diameter circle. I've been places where it has put me very close but the accuracy of a GPS with WAAS (~10 feet) is much better to navigate by.

The only thing Gmaps brings to the table is free current maps and free traffic.

BTW: the only thing that would be different in a route playback would be the flashing "DEMO" in the bottom right corner... this could simply be playing back a route and the picture was taken between the flashes.

[Nick @ Dec 12th 2007 10:51AM]

now if only that Google Maps to Tom Tom interaction was direct and not needing to use the "home" software as a middle man. This would be very cool.

[phlavor @ Dec 12th 2007 12:28PM]

The only time I need GPS is when I'm someplace without a cellphone signal. Conundrum!

[rav0 @ Dec 14th 2007 5:38AM]

The only time I'd need a GPS is when I've gotten hopelessly lost away from civilisation.

[Greg Marsh @ Dec 12th 2007 8:47AM]

iPhone already has bluetooth, why the need for a 'module' ? - Just use any existing Bluetooth enabled GPS device. (Unless this 'module' works with the iTouch also ? - maybe it also has its own onboard memory for maps?)

Google Maps (My Location) currently only works on V2 for Windows Mobile / Nokia etc. The included Google Maps with the iPhone does not have this feature. (Probabl coming soon ;-)

[Jason @ Dec 12th 2007 9:15AM]

Apple crippled the Bluetooth.

Again, they want to keep every possible feature they can behind a commission.

[PEZ @ Dec 12th 2007 5:50PM]

Exactly my thoughts. Besides, this thing looks like its sitting undernearth the iphone, not connected to it - I say POO.

[DarkLightConnection @ Dec 12th 2007 8:48AM]

Ah damn you engadget, you just made my previous comment invalid.. (kinda)..

[Constable Odo @ Dec 12th 2007 8:52AM]

Who wants an external dongle. Put it inside, instead.

No matter, the iPhone 2 will have all the good stuff anyway.

[Bob The Mexican @ Dec 12th 2007 9:00AM]

You are correct - the second iPhone will probably have it built in. Maybe. Who knows. But the latest rumors put the 2nd iPhone for a summer '08 release at the earliest. So by then, there will definitely be tons of iPhone users who will want this.

What I would suggest is a car docking solution that contains the GPS guts. Personally, I would only use this in the car anyway, so why make it a card that sticks out and that I have to remove every time I get out of the car and want to put the phone in my pocket?

[not a car owner @ Dec 12th 2007 10:33AM]

No, it has to be a module, whether attached or bluetooth. For one thing, I don't have a car (live in NYC) so I'd need this to be portable from rental car to rental car.

Also, I love that it's TomTom doing this as it means access to international maps. And that's the other time I'd use this: when finding my way in some European city while traveling.

[Ken @ Dec 12th 2007 10:44AM]

If it is to be a module then it needs to come with a mounting dock. If you're driving in your rental with an iPhone in your hand, you're asking for a ticket. Having a mount that can accommodate both the module and the phone would be ideal. It can be suction cupped to the windshield or clip mounted in the air vents.

[haid @ Dec 12th 2007 3:25PM]

Put it in a mounting dock that is powered. That way there is no drain on the battery (actually charging) when using GPS in a car.

[matteorampazzi @ Dec 12th 2007 8:56AM]

GPS tracking is far more precise than "cell tower" triangulation...

The unlimited data access of the iPhone makes it interesting, in combination with a GPS module, because it would allow the device to retrieve live information such as traffic, road works, accidents, and also make calls for reservation of restaurants and so on.
Now, if only TomTom adapdet their interface to match the iPhone one, with some clever use of multitouch, that would be great. Let's see how it ends. iPhone limitations (no memory card slot) will force TomTom to creade an add on (which I personally don't like that much as a solution), instead of a Bluetooth antenna module (such as Nokia had in the first series of GPS enabled phones).

[Ike Turner @ Dec 12th 2007 9:00AM]

Wow Photoshop FTW!

[STrRedWolf @ Dec 12th 2007 9:53AM]

Yep, the photo's definitely a hack job. Decent fake would be to build the interface for the iPhone/iPod Touch, run it on the devices, and take a snapshot there instead of trying to slap a pic that has massive JPEG compression artifacts already into an existing device.

But GPS over the dock? That and Bluetooth, hook into Google Maps, you're there.

[Wwhat @ Dec 12th 2007 10:23AM]

Hence the quotation marks and the word 'supposed' heh
If there ever was a more obvious fake then I don't know what is, and I don't even think it's a photoshop but just a picture they cut out of an ad and put on top of an iphone

[james @ Dec 12th 2007 9:12AM]

This should cost less than a stand alone gps receiver, but I wonder if it really will be.

Also... damn crippled gps. It's just stupid.

[mkummer @ Dec 12th 2007 9:14AM]

My opinion: clearly a fake (and not a good one). But it would be great to have this, if it will exist any time in the real world... :)

mk

[tamoghno @ Dec 12th 2007 9:16AM]

GPS ? how to fuck a already fucked up battery !

there are many many more important things than GPS, like MMS,Flash player,Standrd headphone jack ,video recording , better camera (SE K750i was 2mp also),tactile feedback , user replaceable better battery ....

[Reader @ Dec 12th 2007 9:33AM]

Uhm... Then don't get it? It's an add-on from Tom Tom (tee hee, I rhymed), do you expect them to make those things you mentioned?

Some people would want GPS on their iPhone, those people can get the attachment (if it exists).

[Russ @ Dec 12th 2007 10:51AM]

well it wouldnt really be a problem for the battery as most people will use it in car, thus probably in a dock that is charging the phone. So battery drain is a none issue unless using it walking around??

[something @ Dec 12th 2007 4:01PM]

@russ

And how do you suppose one docks this phone seeing as how the module is plugged into the docking port?

[xbit @ Dec 12th 2007 9:18AM]

GPS? On a phone? That's certainly five years ahead of the competition!

[John @ Dec 12th 2007 9:20AM]

Actually,

The device seems to be located in Delft, near the Technopolis of the University. That's not the oddest place to find such a thing, now is it? :-)

[ben @ Dec 12th 2007 9:21AM]

real or not, i would buy this in a heartbeat.

[nntpgrip @ Dec 12th 2007 9:37AM]

Make is totally bluetooth and a BT hands free kit as well and I'm sold. Make it something I install.

There is a market for a portable "module" as well. Release them BOTH... As long as I don't have to pay for the software twice, I'll buy them both.

[Ike Skelton @ Dec 12th 2007 9:41AM]

That looks photoshopped... No, not photoshopped, MSPainted.

[MattyG @ Dec 12th 2007 9:52AM]

and they just need to make it ipod touch compatible and it'd be perfect

[Jeroen @ Dec 12th 2007 9:54AM]

It is a road in Holland! That is for sure..... I travel this road every day!

[gfar @ Dec 12th 2007 9:58AM]

My BlackBerry 8820 has had GPS since the day I got it. Garmin, BlackBerry Maps, Google Maps, Wayfinder, TeleNav -- take your pick of software.

[Surur @ Dec 12th 2007 10:00AM]

So Apple goes from being 10 years behind to being only 7 years behind. Soon they will get to bluetooth GPS, and only be 5 years behind, and eventually integrated GPS, and be so 2007.

[KenC @ Dec 12th 2007 10:08AM]

Definitely fake. I'm sure someone is working on a GPS module in time for Apple to release its SDK in February; however, it'll need a pass-thru dongle to be practical for in-car use. Or it can be a pass-thru dongle with mounting block for the iPhone. These, blocky jpgs are worse than almost any current cameraphone out there.

[brad @ Dec 12th 2007 10:10AM]

i hope they bring this to the ipod touch, or atleast it gets hacked to do so!

[RichB @ Dec 12th 2007 10:23AM]

If it's not fake, I'd be getting this in a heartbeat. I was looking to get a TomTom 720 Go, but I may well hold off to see if anything comes of this...

[Jeff Costantino @ Dec 12th 2007 10:46AM]

One more thing that TomTom (or other cellphone GPS system with maps on the device) has over GMaps is that you can make a call AND use the GPS to navigate since you can't have a GPRS/EDGE connection when you're on the phone.

[et @ Dec 12th 2007 10:52AM]

Too bad the iPhone speaker isn't loud enough to hear the directions.

[louden @ Dec 12th 2007 11:05AM]

Hopefully this will help the price of GPS drving devices to fall through the floor - I thing the $700-800 are way overpricd...

[Jon @ Dec 12th 2007 11:21AM]

Whether this is a fake or not...it seems inevitable that it WILL happen eventually. Once the iPhone SDK is out we will start seeing all kinds of cool stuff!
Not only GPS, but I think we'll see a Slingbox player reall soon as well! My two most wanted features.

[Al @ Dec 12th 2007 12:43PM]

You can already get GPS, 3G and Slingbox on a Nokia N95-3.

[iig @ Dec 13th 2007 10:20AM]

You can also eat your own arm if you want...

[Jon @ Dec 12th 2007 11:23AM]

So true! God I wish apple would fix that!! They've been saying a firmware update will fix the speaker problem, but that sure as hell hasn't happened yet....maybe once apple finds a way to charge us .99 cents for each new volume bar they'll do it.

[iomatic @ Dec 12th 2007 11:32AM]

Hello!

Does anyone realize that supposed iPhone is sitting on a table and TomTom is indicating driving?

OK, still, TomTom makes a fine product, but the Honda and Infiniti in-car navigation ain't too shabby.

[Scott @ Dec 12th 2007 12:31PM]

My friend knows some iPhone developers. According to him GPS is definitely in the next iPhone, though I'm not sure which company they're working with.