TomTom speaks up about iPhone situation

As if the iPhone 3G launch could really have any more misinformation floating around, we've got yet another tidbit that needs clarification. Shortly after Apple's second iPhone was announced, out flew a report from Reuters suggesting that TomTom already had iPhone navigation software ready to go. French site Mac Generation was able to get ahold of TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue, and here's the gist of what he had to say. First off, the aforementioned Reuters statement was said to be inaccurate, though he did affirm that an iPhone version of the software was running in the labs and working "pretty well." Unfortunately, the question of "will you guys ship this for the iPhone?" was answered with a "We don't know" style response, but he did clarify that the questionable SDK verbiage we saw wasn't an obstacle at all. Check out the full interview in the read link below -- hope you're fluent in French and / or machine translation!

[raging_hamsterx @ Jun 13th 2008 3:55PM]

yours for only 199 bones

[PEZ @ Jun 13th 2008 4:13PM]

Im not sure about that - there are stipulations baout software charges on the new iphone. It was posted earlier - I am not sure a company can charge that much for software, if its goign to be available in the catalog.

I know Garmin has a BB version of their software for $99 (unlimited) which I think is a good deal, considering they rock. I really love the Nuvi's... and would like to see the nuviphone, but, if I can have my choice of what nav I put on the iphone... choice will always rule over.

[PEZ @ Jun 13th 2008 4:29PM]

Im not sure about that - there are stipulations baout software charges on the new iphone. It was posted earlier - I am not sure a company can charge that much for software, if its goign to be available in the catalog.

I know Garmin has a BB version of their software for $99 (unlimited) which I think is a good deal, considering they rock. I really love the Nuvi's... and would like to see the nuviphone, but, if I can have my choice of what nav I put on the iphone... choice will always rule over.

[Colin B @ Jun 13th 2008 4:19PM]

Really? I had been wondering how much it would cost, but thankfully you stepped in with this exclusive information no one else seems to have heard!

[RyanTV @ Jun 13th 2008 4:30PM]

I would say that he isnt that far off. A map update from TomTom is somewhere around $70, then you gotta include the software itself, plus help TomTom make up for what they arent selling in their physical units.

Not to mention the fact that if you want to put all the maps on your phone it is going to take gigs and gigs of space. Yet another reason that it was incredibly foolish of Apple to not up the ante on storage on the 3G version.

[Coolone3000 @ Jun 13th 2008 4:49PM]

@RyanTV

United States maps for a garmin only take up about 1 gig thats really not terribly bad considering all that you get.

[sam @ Jun 13th 2008 5:52PM]

If you guys had been keeping up with all the latest info, you would know the maximum cost for an application on the app store is $9999.99. That's not a joke, although any application priced that high certainly would be.

[Scott @ Jun 20th 2008 11:02AM]

I'm not too worried about the storage situation given that the device is perpetually connected to the great intra-webs with more than adequate speed to supply this kind of map information on the fly. Bottom line... if google-maps can do it... so can they. Tack on a nifty text-to-speech engine and you're half-way there. I know there's more to it, but you get the idea.

As far as price goes... My feeling is that they'll make the base software price fairly small ($30?), but then charge a subscription for map access, and other extras like live traffic routing and gas-station locations. I'd pay $100 a year for perpetually up to date maps...

Actually my biggest concern would be the potential for user-generated map data. GPS 2.0 for the lose. Give me cartographers for my money dammit! :P

[eggothewaffle @ Jun 13th 2008 3:55PM]

I heard when Jason Voorhees wants to get to his next target as quickly and easily as possible, he uses TomTom GPS navigators.

[striggity @ Jun 13th 2008 3:56PM]

I predict no less than 200 comments by 5pm. I expect high ranking when I'm proved correct.

[Craig @ Jun 13th 2008 4:09PM]

I expect low ranking for pointing out that you should predict no FEWER than 500 comments.

[striggity @ Jun 13th 2008 4:10PM]

lol....touche'

[James @ Jun 13th 2008 4:14PM]

I predict you will be low ranked for adding nothing of value to the comments.

[striggity @ Jun 13th 2008 4:16PM]

it's an iPhone post...99% of the comments here are nothing but fanboyish praise or useless flaming...might as well go back lowrank everyone elses too. lol.

[Coolone3000 @ Jun 13th 2008 4:24PM]

striggity.......you're flaming lol

[happy_penguin @ Jun 13th 2008 4:32PM]

I can't tell what time zone you are in but I'd like to venture a guess at Eastern since you would likely have meant within a couple of hours. It looks as though you're going to fail. :)

[gabe @ Jun 13th 2008 3:57PM]

what are people's experience with Cellphone GPS navigation?

[rob @ Jun 13th 2008 4:21PM]

I've been using MSN Live maps on an HTC S710 paired with a tiny bluetooth gps receiver in my car in LA. Works amazingly. After using it for a while, I was so glad I never dropped the $500-700 on a "premium" gps stand alone unit. Granted, those have all the bells and whistles my setup doesn't have, but as with other overpriced tech, it probably would've gotten old fast and leave me asking myself "why did I spend so much on this thing" when in reality all you really need is something that gets you from point A to B with a few other very useful features.

Not to invite bashing comments, but for those that have not used MSN Live on windows mobile 6 with gps, you are really missing out on a smooth operating product. traffic, gas prices, movie listings, directory, add to contacts, VOICE Search (like 411, but just say the name of the place in my phone), turn-by-turn (non-voice) directions... all with a few pushes of the button (ya. i know. no touchscreen... how uncool of me). been enjoying using this feature (which makes my phone worth its price all by itself) for over a year now.

good day all.

[Rich @ Jun 14th 2008 8:57AM]

Works great on my Nokia N95 8GB. Garmin XT is probably the best if you want turn-by-turn navigation but Google Maps is free and uses the phone's internal GPS if you just want to know where you are.

[Brian @ Jun 13th 2008 4:02PM]

sorry engadget but thats a very bad photoshop.

[natels @ Jun 13th 2008 4:05PM]

This isn't art class.. You should be glad they even put pictures in each post.

[tony @ Jun 13th 2008 5:36PM]

Is that a booger on the home button?

[Heathen @ Jun 13th 2008 4:05PM]

Is there a way to have engadget without all the iPhone stories?
Acknowledged that would cut out 95% of the content but would sure make my day.
I am so sick of the iPhone!

[James @ Jun 13th 2008 4:13PM]

Then do what I do when I see an article I'm not interested in...
Listen closely because you have to follow these steps to the exact detail...


... Don't click on the article.

[Zak @ Jun 13th 2008 4:14PM]

The search box is your friend.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/26/tired-of-all-the-iphone-news-yet/

[Coolone3000 @ Jun 13th 2008 4:14PM]

Is there any way they can cut you out of the comments section? Lol you did click the read link just to comment.

[Heathen @ Jun 13th 2008 5:29PM]

In the past Engadget had a feature they would institute when there was a particularly heinous run of Apple news (like now) this was: a link that filtered out all the Apple stories (and it was fantastic).

Yes James thanks for the stupid specious simpleton logic.

And Coolone3000 where the heck would one post such a comment? under a thread on the latest LCD TV.

[James @ Jun 13th 2008 6:39PM]

You're welcome Heathen! Stupid comments and questions get stupid responses. Maybe when you grow up and learn how to "scroll" over articles that don't interest you, then we can talk with big boy words to you?

[axemt @ Jun 13th 2008 7:33PM]

Aww, such kind people here. I'm betting James wishes everything was as simple as his mind is.

[DT @ Jun 13th 2008 4:05PM]

Haters! Commence attack!

[Kyrra @ Jun 13th 2008 4:14PM]

Nice blatant advertising for your own site. Your only other post on the Engadget blogs was also linking to the same site.

[ErikEngd @ Jun 13th 2008 4:14PM]

If there is no technical road blocks, Apple should either create its own GPS software or let companies like Tom Tom or Garmin do it for the iPhone. A full blown, turn-by-turn GPS can only make the iPhone even more popular.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 13th 2008 4:27PM]

why would apple make a gps software itself when it could ask tom tom or garmin to do it for them and have a revenue-sharing pact with them (which apple is pretty good at) and sell the software at a high price
i am sure google with come up with a better google maps app for use with gps...and if it does then screw garmin screw tom tom...you have one for free

[ErikEngd @ Jun 13th 2008 4:38PM]

Should that be the case, I am for it. It would look even better for users.

[Adam @ Jun 13th 2008 9:39PM]

Remember that anyone who sells anything on the iPhone is basically selling for Apple since Apple is taking 30% of the price. On that note, anyone know what an electronics store normally marks up wholesale goods?

[Marcus Hesse @ Jun 13th 2008 4:16PM]

Couple this with a dash-mount accessory for the iPhone, and you've got an all-in-one device! I'm sure they're skeptical of selling the software for the iPhone, because it could cannibalize their hardware TomTom sales...

[Coolone3000 @ Jun 13th 2008 4:18PM]

Wouldn't it be good not too have to spend money from producing hardware and just make money on selling the software. I would think even if their hardware sales go down, they would still be making a large profit on software.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 13th 2008 4:21PM]

yeah stick it up the windshield and try to reach out (while driving) for it when a call comes your way...you'll looking for the route to the nearest hospital or probably someone else would be doing it for ya...

[Coolone3000 @ Jun 13th 2008 4:23PM]

@vidit

.....speakerphone..........bluetooth......any of those ring a bell?

[Lawrence Waters @ Jun 13th 2008 4:38PM]

How can you fawn over an iPhone with NO bluetooth, NO voice-dialing, NO handsfree, a REALLY bad 2mp SINGLE camera WITHOUT video (no con calls on this "upgrade"., NO SD card slot to expand the memory......they only thing they did right with this version of the iFlop is to add 3g and DROP THE PRICE.

When Apple (or someone clever like HTC) comes out with something that LOOKS like and iPhone and does all that, call me and I'll go buy it (and I'm not talking about the Chinese knock-offs)

[Coolone3000 @ Jun 13th 2008 4:46PM]

@Lawrence

Why are you even in here commenting? Go back to your free with service giveaway phone hahaha

[rip @ Jun 13th 2008 4:49PM]

Lawrence:

What phone are you talking about? Because the iPhone does have bluetooth. And it does have a speakerphone, which also makes it pretty handsfree once you establish a call.

And who the hell cares about SD slots? 16GB not enough for you?

Actually, now that I saw you called it iFlop, I should have known you are a troll and talking out of your ass...

[rip @ Jun 13th 2008 4:55PM]

imo, stand alone GPS hardware is dead or dying anyway.

Basically every new car has or will have GPS nav as either standard or an option.

Why buy a stand alone unit if your car already has it? Or you can get 90% of the functionality from your cell phone?

Tom Tom is smart to move to multi-platform software.

[Matt @ Jun 13th 2008 5:17PM]

TomTom already sells a PDA/smartphone version of their software, why do you think they'd suddenly not want to release a version for the iPhone?
It's kind of expensive, though.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 14th 2008 5:35PM]

@Matt

Yup, Symbian have had it for ages.

I think the iPhone app store is a really good idea but it's kind of depressing when people seem to think that it's a new idea.

[Dan Davis @ Jun 13th 2008 4:19PM]

This is killing me... I REALLY want to hold out for the X1, but damn you Apple. This iPhone thing keeps sounding better everyday.

If there's anyone else out there who is holding out, give me some support!

[gb @ Jun 13th 2008 4:42PM]

i'll bite:

The sdk is only available only on the mac platform. This means that thousands of windows developers like myself cannot develop native applications (web apps can't cut it). Apple is also determining what types of applications can be used on the iphone (without jailbreaking). Locked into itunes, locked into at&t, etc.

You should keep an eye out for a more open platform (android, openmoko). You should also read: http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone :)

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 13th 2008 4:55PM]

Don't hold your breath waiting for some support. Only a couple of fools in the world would be holding out for an Experia X1. Just go and buy the iPhone 3G when it's available and you'll be amply rewarded with a fine product and excellent customer service support you'll probably never need.

I know your loins are aching like hell for that fancy-looking QWERTY keyboard, but unless you can put it down and type, it's just an awkward mess to hold. Heck, it doesn't even have WiFi. Nah, forget the X1. Probably the only people that will buy it will be a few Japanese loyal to the Sony name.

[Dan Davis @ Jun 13th 2008 5:40PM]

No Wi-Fi?

"The X1 then, brings a 3-inch wide VGA (800 x 480) touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera (with photo light), A2DP Bluetooth, aGPS, WiFi, and microSD -- just 400MB on board."

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/10/sonyericsson-xperia-x1-qwerty-with-windows-mobile/

Can I get a response from a non-fanboy, please?

[mike @ Jun 13th 2008 11:02PM]

"This means that thousands of windows developers like myself cannot develop native applications "

Please God, tell me you're not passing up developing Apps for iPhone because you can't afford a Mac Mini to play with. Maybe this Software Dev thing isn't gonna work out. May I suggest a career at Jack in the Box?