TomTom car kit for iPhone will run $120
By Laura June 
posted Sep 28th 2009 3:35PM
posted Sep 28th 2009 3:35PM
We've been waiting quite a while to hear pricing info for the much-anticipated TomTom car kit for the iPhone. The kit, which will be sold separately from the navigational iPhone app, will be available in October (that's almost now!!). While we still don't have full details on what the whole package will include, it's officially going to run you $119.95 (or 99.99 if you pay in Euros). Check out the teaser video after the break to tide you over until the awesome, GPS-infused release date is upon us.
[Via GPSTracklog]
[Via GPSTracklog]
So the only way to make use of the GPS chip in my iPhone 3G S is to buy additional software like Tom Tom?
Google maps doesn't use it?
Confusing!
No, Google Maps does use the GPS. So do other programs.
The point of programs like TomTom and Navigon are to give you 3D real-time turn-by-turn directions. Google Maps doesn't do that.
Google map does use it but require you to be online via 3G
TomTom can be used offline i believe.
Any app can use the GPS chip in your iPhone, including google maps. Google Maps uses it to find where you are on a map, and the fandango app uses it to find where you are in order to tell you what theaters are near you.
The TomTom app is the best app for *turn-by-turn* navigation on the iphone. google maps can give you directions, but they are not turn-by-turn, that is the key.
Close one, MadRssn... While it's definitely superior to Maps for turn by turn, it's becoming less and less possible to call it the best given the high quality and TTS abilities of Navigon's cheaper app.
Thanks for the quick replies folks. So yes, Google Maps uses it, but if you want turn by turn, you will need to buy navigation software like Tom Tom. Also, Google Maps requires you to be within a coverage area.
Alright, so when are Tom Tom and Garmin going to battle this out? Do I hear $49.99?
That Tom Tom mount looks pretty damn sweet. But that price is RIDICULOUS. Some Chinese company is probably working on a cheap knock off.
Joe - navigon's is trying very heard to undercut tomtom early on because they know eventually all the great features of a standalone tomtom will come to the iphone soon. TTS is coming within the next two updates i predict.
the thing that sets the tomtom app apart from the rest is their IQ Routes, which make their actual directions far superior to the rest. who cares about tts when the app is using only speed limits to calculate your route and arrival time. IQ Routes is much smarter as it uses historical data collected over many years of average speed at different times of the year and day, down to the hour. It is scary how accurate it is.
Bingo - the mount is perfectly designed, but INSANELY overpriced. I, too, will wait for the $20 knockoff sans GPS chip.
Wait is this 120 bucks withOUT the app? Because if that's so, F that.
Might as well just be a dedicated GPS unit and not kill my iphone battery
oneMadRssn, did you test TomTom vs anything else? RouteIQ is just a marketing trick. TomTom is not that great in US.
What sucks on all iPhone turn-by-turn solutions (so far there are 2 solid - TomTom and navigon) is lack of traffic information and re-routing based on it.
If you try google map while driving, it's quite difficult and dangerous.
But the price is too expensive.
onioning.com/yoda
Just an FYI, this isn't just a mount it also contains a seperate GPS chip (to answer complaints of dropped GPS Signal) and power source. I agree it is priced sky high, but it is more than a mount.
I dunno. I can read directions and follow a map without being told what to do every 50 feet. So google maps works well enough for me.
Waze has worked well for me the times I've needed turn by turn. It does have real-time traffic, reported by the people who just got stuck in it. Not to mention speed traps and other hazards. Because my phone is connected to my stereo via USB, I get the turn-by-turn through the car speakers, and if the music is cranked, the directons get louder with it. Can't beat that.
For a car mount, the Griffin WindowSeat is $30, clips right to the phone, and stays put.
@JimboJones
FYI, Navigon has announced traffic in the next update for October. $20 lifetime for the first month. $25 if you purchase the add-on after the first month its out.
No way in hell I'm buying this. Way too expensive! Might as well buy a standalone unit at that price.
Not to mention you still need to buy the app.
not to mention you can buy an iphone at that price.
@Rudy
With a 2-year contract the iphone actually costs over $2000. Oh man, people just love wasting money.
@Will: Well it may be $2000 over 2 years but thats no different than any other smart phone. Its the same for an android or pre or whatever.
What's the reason at getting the kit? Isn't it just a mount and an iphone charger in a single unit? Unless I'm seeing something wrong, that definitely isn't worth $120 bucks.
The reason to buy this mount is that it has a better GPS chip built in. The iphone has a pretty crappy AGPS chip built in, which is barely usable for turn-by-turn directions.
so the $120 kit is actually a full GPS receiver minus the display? and the iPhone only serves as the display?
you can get a full out TomTom or Garmin for that price. even if i had an iPhone i would think this is a total hose job
The iPhone is also the storage for the maps, and the processor. But yeah, that's the idea.
@onemadrssn "barely usable for turn-by-turn" bullshit! I've used navigon and tomtom apps for the iPhone and both have wiled beautifully. Not only does AGPS work well, but it works better than traditional GPS when you have a signal. I can get my location in under 5 seconds while on my stand alone TomTom it cannofren take more than 30 seconds. With maps on the iPhone like with the tomtom app it will work without cell signal as well.
The fact that TomTom is trying to sell a dock for $120 is ridiculous, even if itndoea include a better GPS reciever. Sell me one without the chip please, what's the point in paying for another chip? I thought the idea was to get rid of devices by having a iPhone.
That's right, the idea is to minimize devices. However, iPhone as it stands now doesn't quite cut it when it comes to that. It's a start, but in no way is it convenient enough to house all devices in one.
naturlichfrisch I totally agree with you on AGPS part, however I'm not sure that the $120 is ridiculous. We don't know yet what this $120 includes, what if it includes stand, iphone app, unlimited future maps updates and desktop software? Would it still be ridiculous? I'm not saying it includes it, but we don't know yet what is in $120 package.
@naturlichfrisch
I don't know what magical iPhone you have. I have to be driving for at least 10 minutes before Navigon lock in a signal. The GPS chip is a piece of shite in my 3GS. Somehow, in 3G, the GPS lock in a signal much faster. (I did a comparison side-by-side)
What I don't get is that while google map can locate the position by just tapping the locate cursor, Navigon cannot.
I would not recommend anyone who needs GPS to use the iPhone as their only GPS, get a standalone. It is much better.
I'm interested primarily in the speakerphone. If it's good enough to use instead of a headset, I'm in. Usable speakerphone + mount + charger + audio out = $120 for me, even without the better gps.
@oneMadRssn
Strange. I've found the GPS to be dead on whenever I've used it. No matter if I was using Google maps or Navigon.
Matter of fact. I've usded Google maps with the satellite image overlay while at work and it showed me being in the correct parking space most of the time. The times that it didn't it was only one space off.
Now that is pretty impressive.
@CaptCaveman & naturlichfrisch - If you take the raw GPS data that is being delivered by the built in GPS you will see what I mean. While standing still, or moving slowly its pretty good. When you are driving down a road, it jumps left and right of the road by as much as 50 yards sometimes. So without any post processing it would apear you are moving in a wild zig-zag. The AGPS is assisted (hence the A) by cell phone towers triangulating your location. If you are only within range of one tower, then the built in GPS is not very usable at all.
Basically, a REAL (sirf-star III or equivalent) GPS chip will work better for turn-by-turn across the whole world. I am NOT saying that the built-in is never good enough; it is totally good enough in a lot of areas. Where the built-in fails is where the chip in the dock will prevail.
@oneMadRssn
OK, I should have mentioned while driving also. I've tried it in airplane mode. It was very very accurate. I've tried it in downtown Des Moines, yeah its not downtown Chicago, but my Nuvi would have issues with the skywalks connecting all the buildings and would loose signal very easy.
I've honestly not experienced any drift at all. And I have been the passenger in the car just holding my phone and watching the screen because there was nothing better to do.
I can honestly say that the Navigation (with Navigon) was as good as my Garmin Nuvi 350 and actually better since my Nuvi would normally be off by a building or two when navigating to an address. The Navigon app will put me right in front of the door or driveway.
Like I said before. I'm impressed.
I dont get why you wouldn't just get a stand-alone unit. The car kit runs $120 and the app is $99....
you can get a pretty damn good stand-alone for $220
Wow, you can get basic garmin which has about the same functionality for less than that,and does that even include the app? What about standalone, if thats for the just the stand they'll sell about 5.
I'll just a regular clip or something and deal with it saying poor gps reception half the time even when there are no clouds. they probably built that in so you go buy the kit
What teaser video after the break?
I was wondering the same thing. Also, it's always strange to me when autoblog or another sister site has something first.
+ 1 for the awesome Hughes avatar
its moving so fast u cant even see it.
@aaron
Next time you go on a trip. And your out in the middle of nowhere, with no cell signal, with your Pre and the great included navigation. When you finally make it back to an area with a cell signal. Let us know how much you like that included navigation package, will you?
Aren't Apple fans tired of getting screwed with the pricing of all their products?
The Palm Pre comes with FREE navigation on the Sprint Everything Data plan...
-Exceeder
www.cepmcert.com
WTF you talking about? Last time I checked Tom Tom is not Apple.
@Fernando...sorry buddy but if this was marketed to anyone but Iphone users it would be half this price.
but apple doesn't include full blown turn by turn nav with their phone/plan. you have to buy this app + dock so it can do what the pre does out of the box for free. that said who cares..... i love my pre, people love their iphones.
Your pre comes with a windshield mount? damn, might have to get one.
The Pre also comes with a lot of suck compared to the iPhone.
Oh, I'm sorry, do I sound like some sort of fanboy for the iPhone? Because your comment was totally biased and not influenced by your ignorance at all.
Regardless, spamming some random website in your "signature" here makes your entire comment invalid IMO. Move along.
Your comment comparing it to the Sprint Navigation on the Pre would have been valid if this was an article about the AT&T navigation program for the iPhone. However, this is about a hardware mount and device with a GPS embedded in it to improve reception for an iPhone, and about software that works when the phone doesn't have a data connection.
Uhm...
That 99.99 is in POUNDS, not Euros.
I know foreign currencies might seem strange to Americans like you.
Although it's currently very nearly one euro to the pound, it's not quite, and you're linking to an article specifying pounds.
No one cares, guy. You could trade in wampum, you'd still be a douche.
I was correcting a mistake in the article. How am I being a douche?
"I know foreign currencies might seem strange to Americans like you."
European snobbery=douche
Jokes = lost on the internet
Fine... making that JOKE was douchey.
Its the equivalent of saying "with all due respect" before an ad hominem attack, or "I don't want to sound racist, but..." followed by something racist.
Saying something douchey and they saying it was a joke doesn't make the initial comment any less offensive.
You're welcome by the way.
There's still a glaring error in the post
Apparently not glaring... you are the only one that cares.
@Phoenix
Actually, the price of the mount is GBP 99 and EUR 99. TomTom seems to think that there is a 1:1 conversion rate between the Euro and Sterling and represents another reason why I am not interested in this particular product.
Still, the European snobbery is fine. Considering the dunces from the US that get sent over to our offices (including the idea that they could make a quick trip to Sweden from the UK during lunch...) I cannot correct the stereotype. The idea that something is different to the US seems to come as somewhat of a shock to them and I'm honestly getting fed up at having to "educate" them each time...
Just tell the Apple fan-bois that it is the hand of Steve Jobs in that picture and $120 for a windshield mount and charger will seem like a bargain....they'll fly off the shelves.
Hot damn! A $120 iPhone holster for my windshield! Guess I'll pass on that just like I passed on every other worthless but overpriced iphone accessory over the past 2ish years.
So my contract is up and I want to dump this piece of shit the cupertino made. Any suggestions?
The only other phone right now that could possibly compete with the iPhone features wise right now is the pre, and to be honest, it isn't even really that good. Stay with the iPhone would be my best suggestion.
Also, if you wouldn't be as ignorant as every other person who says the same shit, you would realize there is a gps chip and bluetooth in the holster, as well as means to charging your iPhone. Read up next time buddy.
n900? That's the only official one I'm considering... many other rumored phones will be unveiled soon probably.
Lots of good options.
Well, how I'm seeing it, there are four ways of doing this.
1.) Buy the app and the car kit, dish out $220 for something that probably won't be as good as a stand alone unit.
2.) Just but the car kit and get a cracked copy of the application(only for jailbroken iphones and ipod touches when it is availble for use on the ipod touch) for $120.
3.) Don't even bother with the car kit, just get a cracked copy of the app, use the gps onboard the 3g/3gs.
4.) Buy a stand alone unit.
Now, personally, I don't have an iPhone, I have an iPod touch. And after emailing TomTom, I was given a response that there would eventually be support for the iPod touch. My iPod touch is jailbroken, so personally, i'm leaning towards 2 because I ALWAYS get lost, and I'm not interested in doing research for a stand alone unit.
I will go with #5
get the cracked version and a cheap car mount with a power supply.
Ah, forgot that. I was thinking the same thing if i had an iphone back when i first hear of this. Yeah, if i had one, number 5 would be my option too.
yeah....welcome to (add here how many years ago).I `ve been doing this on a NOKIA 5800 and a Sygic navigation for a year now at 1/3 of the cost to purchase an iphone + the navigation software.Talking about ripping off the customers.
So how much is the actual APP gonna cost....
Right now I'm not seeing a point for this App/Carkit considering I have a Tom Tom XL330s...sure its not the BEST TomTom unit but it does the job(even if I cant update the maps on the damn thing due to lack of space)
uh the APP already exists in the store and has for nearly a month. It costs $100.
whats sad is I remembered the Article from when they review it a month back...but not until AFTER I had commented...FML...smh
at anyrate thats jut too damn costly....
my XL330 only cost $150
2 words....
F*ck That.
If this thing doubles as a charger, I think its worth the asking price without the GPS chip- You can charge your iphone/pod touch with USB-mini!!
*Please note: I don't own an iPhone/touch, though my wife has a 2nd gen touch, so having to keep a proprietary charger in the car is a known problem.*
You think a USB mini charger is worth $120? Wow.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/28/tomtom-car-kit-for-iphone-will-run-120/comments/21950113/
These guys need a better hand model.
Serious. You'd think something that close would have a bit more attention paid to the modeling.
you kidding? you know how much Skeletor charges to model? why do you think this thing costs so much?
That is awesome, thanks! I can't wait to spend $120 + $99 app to make my marginal gps phone into a competent navigator. Personally, I think the nuvifone is sounding pretty good. Boo TomTom. Go Garmin.
Keep paying, chumps.
"I know foreign currencies might seem strange to Americans like you."
European snobbery=douche
Local CompUSA (TigerDirect) store here in my city sells refurbed top tier Garmins in brand new condition with store warranty for $99.. Yes, 4.3" widescreen's with TTS, lane assist, etc. for $99. This is not worth it and never will be.
is that the Dallas store? I might have stop by and take a look.
No, this is Jacksonville, Florida in my case. Garmin 8 series, which may not be the newest generation, but have every imaginable feature onboard. Bluetooth even.
Never seen so much coverage for an over-priced GPS unit.
HAHA , RIP OFF
99.99 for app and then another 120 for holster? i'll take my 7$ iphone holster from deal extreme, and GMAP canada over this any day
I'll take my in-dash touchscreen NAV over this. I have an iPhone and wouldn't even consider this app/car kit set. If I didn't have the in-dash, I'd just pick up portable unit.
lord help the DUMBASS that actually buys this.
That is the biggest rip off ive seen on the iphone yet
Nice gadget.. but its too expensive.. and why should I used it... lol
OK, maybe the dock does have a better GPS built in and maybe it really is worth $120. But that price puts it out of my price range. I'd rather just get the TomTom or Navigon app for $99 and a cheaper window mount and just deal.
Hope this works with the navigon app. I want lane guidance + the navigon app has traffic for a one time fee instead of other app's charging monthly scrips.
Why can I still not use my $30 Bluetooth GPS. Worked like a champ with my Moto Q. Throw it up in the dash and wirelessly connects to my phone. Not to mention that battery lasted 14+ hours! Not to mention this would work with the original iphones and ipod touches as well. nothing liked being pimped by the man.
Cracked navigon/Tomtom + $6 holster off ebay > $220 "all-in-one-device" iPhone w/ Tomtom mount
I hope you never become a software developer...
There isn't free GPS apps for the iPhone? Even my crappy slider phone on Sprint has turn by turn GPS in it.
What about the CoPilot GPS app that came out a couple weeks back for $35? Anyone give that a spin?
I will never own a apple product but you know this isnt that bad of a deal. You CAN just use the tom tom app you dont have to buy the kit. But the kit inclkudes audio out and a hands free kit and charging input so thats not bad and it has a better GPS chip.
Anyone notice how they are totally pandering to worthless hipsters by having the demo in the video showing them how to get back to williamsburg ny? I mean come one hipsters dont own cars in that part
I could get the entry level model of my Sony head unit for about the same price. It does bluetooth and has a USB connection on it.
So I can just hook up the sync cable to the iPhone, the head unit will connect to bluetooth when the radio and phone is on. And I have hands free calling, directions through the head unit, and music through the head unit. And the only wire that is involved is the sync cable.
Horrible price. I don't care if there is a GPS receiver built in.
Shame. $50 price point would have been more realistic.
Dunno. If you watch the video, you do get a handsfree speaker phone capability, music output, a mini USB charge port, a 'better' GPS receiver, all in a fairly compact package. Wonder if it comes with the mini USB car charger (not that I don't have a few). When you put all that together in a fairly compact package, it starts to look a little better for travel. Fly somewhere and then rent a car type travel. The iPhone is coming anyway. If I wanted the same I would need a BT handsfree ($50-$100) that clips to the visor, a dedicated Nav unit ($50-$150) with the car mount, and the chargers to run each, plus the one for the phone. If the rental had an aux in on the radio and I wanted to use that, I would need to power the phone, which leads to a car accessory outlet splitter. I think $120 is a bit steep, but when you start looking at the consolidation it can provide, it has some appeal.
My problem is I already have the Navigon app (and am impressed, for what I do with it), and I fear this mount might intentionally refuse to support it. Not excited about shelling out another $100 for TomTom. That would probably kill it for me. Now, a bundle for like $175, hmm, maybe.
Wait a minute. You get a holder for the iphone that suction cups to the window for $120? it's not even legal in my state! Doesn't even come with the tomtom app? what a load of crap.
For the price of the app + the mount, why not just buy a dedicated GPS unit?
I have been using Navigon since it came out and I cannot express how terrible it is. It does have some great features like the text to speach, and the iPod controls are very nice. I kid you not the last 30 destinations I have searched for in Navigon it could not find any of them. I searched for an Olive Garden in the whole state of Utah and it says we do not have a single one here, here is one 1.5 miles from my house that has been here for over 10 years! That's ridiculous!I went to lake Powell last weekend and it could find the marina we have launched from for the last 5 years! It was so bad I have been keeping track of all the places it can't find. Gps signal is terrible, if google maps can pick me up in seconds so should Navigon, plus it takesover 30 seconds to load. I have used the tomtom for less than a day and I can tell it's superior. Once it has tts and iPod controls it will be perfect I think the cradle is a ripoff at 120 even though it has gps, hands free calling and the whole 9 yards, not worth the money but do spend the extra $10 and get the tomtom.
Must say - I have been using my iPhone with the Navigon Turn by Turn APP for a while now.... I drive a LOT around to customers every day, so i really need a reliable GPS.. My old Garmin was kind of worn out (outdated maps and crappy battery and sudden turn-off-incidents) so I thought i would give the Navigon a spin while on sale here in the Danish App Store...
Haven't had a single thought of regret since then - good reception, fades out the music beautifully when the nice lady wants to give me directions and while in calls i can just jump back in the program and continue the trip while talking in my blutooth headset...
Navigon are releasing a far cheaper mount with charger only function - for me that is enough....
I was VERY interested in getting the TomTom application and car kit when they first announced them earlier in the year but I'm having nothing to do with it now. I am quite sure that the combination of the application and kit represents the best GPS in-car navigation solution for the iPhone but the price is just completely bonkers. Rather, I will continue waiting for 3rd party solutions to be produced as I am quite sure this can be done for a fraction of the price. At this rate I'm much more likely to go for either the Navigon or CoPilot solutions.