Navigon brings gratis real-time traffic updates to entire product line

In a move that we can only hope signals a trend, GPS maker Navigon has announced that real-time traffic updates will now be free for all users of its wares. For awhile now, the outfit has offered gratis traffic updates on its higher-end models, but now, it's taking the Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life program to each navigation system it produces. There's no extra hardware to buy, no hidden fees -- just good, clean, free traffic updates. What's not to love?

[allislost @ Aug 28th 2008 5:30AM]

hmm wow... NOW I'm interested in getting one of these and ...I guess I'll get a car too...

[kringan @ Aug 28th 2008 12:25PM]

on the navigon website: http://navigonusa.com/products/compare-devices
it still shows traffic optional ..

From the read link:
NAVIGON, one of the world's leading and fastest growing providers of navigation products and solutions, today announced it is making Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life standard on a wide range of its new products this fall. Free traffic updates will be available on NAVIGON devices spanning high-end to entry-level price points starting at $229 MSRP.

Its not for all wares, only for those priced greater than 229 USD and only on the new products. I was about to order one online .. good that I read in depth and found the error.

[Ben @ Aug 28th 2008 5:43AM]

It is not only about giving gratis real-time traffic updates but I wonder how the QUALITY will be.
Let's wait and see.

[lucascouvreur @ Aug 28th 2008 5:44AM]

I think the title means "Navigon brings free real-time traffic updates to entire product line"

replace the dutch word "gratis" with the english word "free"

[Mark @ Aug 28th 2008 6:52AM]

No, gratis is in the English language, it is usually used to signify getting something for free when you would usually have to pay for it, such as in this example. So use of the word gratis here is perfectly appropriate.

[francisco @ Aug 28th 2008 12:27PM]

actually GRATIS is FREE in Spanish.

[David P @ Aug 28th 2008 7:15AM]

I wonder if existing customers can get this too.

[Zach @ Aug 28th 2008 8:03AM]

Navigon has the ability to make some quality shit. I had one of their systems before and the traffic combined with the real3D feature when you come up to an intersection was quality. Unfortunately, it was a few flaws like numerous periods of lag, the robotic voice, and hard to read UI that made me return it and stick with my TomTom One

[Josh @ Aug 28th 2008 10:24AM]

Will this also be for a previous product I just bought?

[Richard @ Aug 28th 2008 11:03AM]

How does the traffic data compare to the Dash Express? I bought one of those for my dad, love it, and I'm considering purchasing one for myself.

[Brad @ Aug 28th 2008 11:09AM]

It's not free, it's incorporated into the price of the product. This is a desperation move by Navigon, who is struggling to maintain a #4 place in the US. Good luck getting your "free lifetime" traffic updates when the company folds.

[M @ Aug 30th 2008 3:24PM]

Brad, actually it works this way:

The traffic service they use only requires a piece of hardware that can pick up free traffic signals over the air. Several other companies offer this service for free as well because once you have the hardware you don't pay any provider a fee. Unlike Microsoft's Direct services.

[Neill Burkett @ Aug 28th 2008 11:47AM]

I have the 2100, the low end model, and got the updates free as a Black Friday deal at Staples last year.

Its ok for the feature, i still like the 3D image of Interstate exits you get when you are using it for travel.

[Dutch @ Aug 30th 2008 10:21PM]

I had a Navigon 700 for nine months. It was glitzy but FAILED at core functions. Routing was terrible. I don;t mean it had some occasionally strange routes, I mean it always routed badly. If you read various forums like gpspassion you see that the idiotic routing is objectively compared to Garmin, TomTom and Google Maps.

Want to see how serious Navigon is about its US operation? It has been here a year and you cannot buy a spare proprietary mount if it breaks (and they do) or its proprietary usb head chargers. My mount broke after 2 months (Nov 2007). They told me each and every month they would be selling accessories the next month. They put up a laughable bunch of accessories like screen protectors and pouches. They finally told me that I could buy the mount through Navigon Germany. $160 to shipped. thanks.

They finally updated the software after about six months. It broke the ability to even save favorites (you already cannot add POIs). saved favorites come up as invalid now all th time. I got rid of mine but from forums you can see this is still not fixed.