TomTom iPhone Car Kit up for £100 UK pre-order, includes navigation app
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Sep 24th 2009 3:59AM
posted Sep 24th 2009 3:59AM
"The Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, but the Car Kit app only works with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G"So what about the iPod touch compatibility as claimed in the TomTom FAQ? Or is that just a gaming device now?
Update: Just hit mainland Europe for €99,95.
Update 2: Oops! Looks like the page was pulled -- back to waiting! See the original after the break.
[Via Recombu]
I read that the app might become illegal (in Australia) as laws may get passed in not allowing ppl to use mobile phone as secondary nav device. i.e something that may distract you whilst driving.
more here http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/1269257.html
The law will just make it illegal to use it without a car kit of some sort... eg using it while holding it, which is illegal in pretty much every other civilised country already.
Good point and agree.
Asking for iPod Touch? Last I heard iPod Touch doesn't have GPS chip in it.
At least not yet. Do some homework Thomas!
The car kit has a GPS chip installed already, isn't that enough or am I wrong?
Funny you tell him to do his homework when you obviously didn't know that the TomTom car kit comes with its own GPS chip built in.
There were also reports from the manufacturer that the car kit WOULD work with the iPod Touch. Why they claim that it only works with the iPhone 3G, I don't know... I hope they didn't end up dropping the support all together.
Well...they might...I mean cmon its meant to be the best portable gaming machine in the world...
HOLD ON,
IMMA LET YOU FINISH, but I just wanted to say the iPod Touch is NOT the best gaming system in the world...
Uh...thanks Kayne....ANYWAYS... having a GPS Nav app would totally kill that and put the touch into a different category.
Man my post just totally lost merit because of that outburst...what an ass.
From what I hear TomTom on iPhone is a bit gash. I personally opted for Navigon which was on sale for £38.99. I'm really pleased with it. Rumor has it that Navigon are also bringing a dock to market. I look forward to that.
As someone who has sat back for a few updates before taking the plunge, I think you might be right - as the underdogs Navigon seem to be putting in a bit more effort. Mind you they aren't planning to release a location-assisting dock (I believe their proposed dock is just charge/audio) unfortunately.
Navigon's dock doesn't have a GPS booster in it like the tom tom dock.
Just something to ponder...
I've not really found the need to boost the signal so far. It's pretty much been spot on. Very fast to update when turning corners, even in built up areas. I wonder if the TomTom unit will work with Navigon software. Probably not I'm guessing
How about a kit with the Europe Maps? can't find it..
By the way it's already on the italian store too, at 99.95 €
http://store.apple.com/it/product/TX529ZM/A?mco=MTA0MzE3MDg
What about those who've already purchased the app and just want the car kit?
OK, great. Car Kit announced. But Tom Tom, how do your EXISTING IPHONE CUSTOMERS get the car kit? Ie: people who bought your app straight away following launch..... are you guys going to screw them....?
I'm stumped how they launch a product, again, with only half the story available. Seriously guys, you need someone else to run your PR....
They are really screwing the early adopter pooches here.
Dutch Store has it too! €99,95
For all those who have already purchased the non dock included software, wouldn't it be great if you could eBay it! Come to think of it (and heres opening up a new can of worms) ... wouldn't it be great if you could sell your apps as people do software on eBay!!!!
I wonder if it is indeed *technically* possible to make it work on iPod Touch, but Apple are trying to force people into iPhones?
No mention if it includes a charger for your iPhone in the box?
This thing is going to be a right pain for those of us with FullSpeed iPod headunits- I don't suppose you can split the dock in any way? Until apple implement BT AVRCP this is going to be a pain.
€99,95?? Wow €9,995
Thats one hell of an expensive app! So glad we in the uk get it for £99.95!
Continental Europe and other parts of the world use , instead of . as a currency delimiter so he is entirely correct.
Yeah! My first lowest ranked!
I'm soooooo happy!
OK, so, some European countries do use , and not .
From the iphone Tom Tom web site,
"5. Will the app be bundled with the car kit when that becomes available?
When available, the TomTom car kit will be sold without the TomTom app. The TomTom app can only be purchased via the Apple App stores."
From apple store page
"Did you notice?
You get both the TomTom navigation app for your iPhone 3GS or 3G and the docking kit to hold your iPhone securely in place on your dashboard or windscreen."
So incorrect information somewhere, if the application was included then the early adaptors are going to be a bit unhappy! Its looking like a very expensive bit of kit considering the sharp drop in prices for standalone navigation system.
The Euro ones just have one-country maps or do they get Western Europe Map and Car Kit for €99?
"The TomTom car kit availability was originally planned for this summer. But we have decided to take some extra weeks in order to deliver the highest quality on this innovative product."
Translation: 'We've deliberately waited until the last possible moment to release this car kit, so as to ensure that as many people as possible pay the full £59.99 for the application separately."
What a joke. Methinks I'll be going into my order history and clicking the big 'I bought this app by mistake' button.
Just gone from the Apple store! They made a mistake somewhere...
Not only has it been pulled from Apple Store, but there are reports that TomTom has issued a notice stating that the car kit DOES NOT come with the app for the 99 pounds. BOOO!! TomTom can suck it!
Someone needs to be fired for this whole get up!
Looks like the Apple Store made an error in description, the mount price does not include the app, see this link:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itunes/news/index.cfm?newsid=27256&pagtype=allchandate
Bit of a PR mess somewhere, at the revised price it makes a decent standalone system like a bargain, maybe the negative comments will force a rethink on price but I doubt it.
Of course using the 3.1 iphone OS would get you lost pretty fast due to the new apple implementation of "coma-mode", I can see the users now, turn left, turn right, screen goes blank, user has to do a hard reset and start the app up again, stick to a paper map, they never reboot and cost a lot less...
I assume the Europe one comes with the European maps, for example if you buy the Europe TomTom app you would get UK & Ireland as well so by the sound of things us Brits can buy the Europe one from outside of the UK and get the entire of Europe for cheaper than the UK + Ireland package?
hey there. i bought the app about a week ago.
today i noticed the dock for sale on the apple uk site; and promptly ordered it...
soon after the dock disappeared from the site although i could see my order under 'my orders' on the website...
now, even my order has disappeared!!!
off on a tangent but has anyone noticed that updating to snow leopard screws up the wifi internet connection?? (took me 3 attempts to get this far...)
It's really great that for about US$160, you get almost everything you need to navigate from one place to the next.
CPU, storage, and input device sold separately.
Macmall in the US is offering it for $102:
http://www.macmall.com/s?rch&q=tomtom%20iphone&includeImage=true
just called apple and they said that they have refused all orders for the iphone cradle; and declined to comment any further :-(