Introduced earlier this month for the European market, TomTom announces today the U.S. availability of the TomTom car kit for iPhone which can be purchased either on the TomTom website or at the Apple online store. Just to recap the features, the TomTom car kit for iPhone comes with:

• Secure mount which docks the iPhone in the desired position on the car windshield or dashboard, using a twist-and-lock motion
• Adjustable mount securely rotates iPhone to either portrait or landscape mode
• Easily removed with one twist upon arrival at a destination
• Built-in GPS receiver reduces the chance of signal drop in areas where GPS reception is limited, such as cities with tall buildings or forested areas
• Significantly improved positioning accuracy in all areas
• Built-in speaker for clear voice instructions
• Integrated microphone and speaker allowing hands-free calling
• Charges iPhone while on the go, so it stays fully charged
• Plays your iPhone music through the AUX OUT port over your car stereo

The TomTom car kit for iPhone is available now for $119.95. Keep in mind you’ll still need to buy the TomTom application for the iPhone.

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Owners of the TomTom app for the iPhone will be interested to hear the company has announced a new car kit for the iPhone in Europe. The TomTom car kit for the iPhone is designed to provide a safer driving experience with the iPhone as well as increased GPS performance thanks to a built-in GPS receiver. The full feature list includes:

• Secure docking using the EasyPort mount
• Built-in GPS receiver enhances the GPS signal especially in areas where GPS reception is limited
• Built-in speaker and volume control
• Hands-free calling via built-in microphone
• Charges iPhone while driving
• Rotates for optimal viewing
• Line out port to connect to car audio system
• Compatible with iPhone 3G and 3GS

If you’re living in Europe, you can purchase the TomTom car kit for the iPhone at the TomTom website or at the Apple online store for $99,99 euro. The car kit will be available in the U.S. in the near future. Note – the car kit does NOT come with the TomTom app – you’ll still need to purchase the app for the iPhone.

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TomTom introduced a new entry-level car navigation solution today for the European market called the TomTom Start. Designed for the occasional driver and for those who have never really used GPS devices, the TomTom Start features the following:

• A simplified menu displaying a two button user interface – “Plan Route” and “Browse Map”
• Lightweight design with a 3.5 inch display
• Semi-fixed EasyPort mount
• Choice of six colors
• Support for IQ Routes – provides users with faster route any time of the day with accurate travel times
• Support for Map Share technologies – allows users to make their own map changes and benefit from thousands of free map corrections made by TomTom users every day free of charge
• Realistic visual instructions
• High quality speaker
• Help menu
• Available in black and white

The Start will be available in UK and Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Prices are $129 for a regional map and $149 for a European map.

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TomTom and AT&T announced a new agreement today whereby the AT&T wireless network will power the new TomTom XL 340S LIVE’s connected services. The XL 340S LIVE’s connected services include Local Search powered by Google, real-time traffic information, TomTom Fuel Price service, and TomTom Weather (there are others).

All services are preloaded on the XL 340S LIVE and will work immediately out of the box. Expect future collaboration between the two companies on future products.

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Fans of TomTom portable navigation devices will be happy to hear that the company is introducing a new larger-display series called the TomTom XXL. Two models were announced today – the TomTom XXL 530S and the TomTom XXL 540S – both of which feature an extra-large 5 inch display.

Common features of both XXL devices include:

• TomTom IQ Routes technology which uses historical speed measurements for every time of day and for every road segment to help create the fastest routes possible
• Full maps of the US and Canada
• TomTom Map Share technology which allows users to instantly modify street names, street direction, points of interest, etc and benefit from corrections made by others
• TomTom Help Me menu allows users to easily access local emergency service providers
• New user menu with optimized icons for easier navigation
• Fold and Go EasyPort mount – folds flat against the device for easy transportation
• TomTom HOME – free desktop application to keep users’ devices up to date at all times

Features specific to the TomTom XXL 540S include:

• Advanced Lane Guidance for realistic representations of complex highway junctions and lane-specific visual directions
• Preloaded maps of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada
• 7 million points of interest
• High quality black finish

Both TomTom XXL devices will be available in October with the XXL 530S priced at $279.95 and the XXL 540S priced at $299.95.

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iPhone owners who are also fans of TomTom GPS navigation products will be thrilled to hear that the TomTom App for the iPhone is now available for purchase via the Apple App Store for $99.99 (though you might not be thrilled with the price point). The TomTom App for the iPhone provides the same easy to use, intuitive user interface found on today’s TomTom Personal GPS devices – except they’re now available on the iPhone instead.

The TomTom app is available for both the iPhone 3G and 3GS and includes a map of the US and Canada via Tele Atlas. Features of the app include:

• IQ Routes technology which bases route calculations on actual experiences of millions of TomTom drivers to calculate the fastest route
• Fast route planning and clear voice instructions
• Automatic re-routing if a turn is missed
• Route demo or map of route when trip planning
• Alternative route options if avoiding roadblocks, toll ways or looking for high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes along route
• 6 million POI
• Optimized for iPhone
• Multiple display options including portrait and landscape mode
• Night and day color mode
• Support for 18 languages
• 3D or 3D map display
• Support for multi-touch gestures
• Navigation to contacts in the address book
• POI search and call capabilities from iPhone

TomTom claims to expect compatibility with the iPod touch and other iPhone models (I assume the 1st gen iPhone??) to come soon.

Below is the WWDC presentation of the TomTom App

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I try and get away from iPhone related news .. but they keep… pulling me back..

This time it’s a supposed spy shot of an upcoming TomTom GPS module for the Apple iPhone. Simply attach the module to the dock connector on the iPhone and we assume install a TomTom software application and it looks like you’re going to get full GPS capabilities on the iPhone. Just think of the touchscreen/widescreen possibilities! Oh my mouth is watering now!

In any case, word is TomTom will be unveiling this rumored add-on device during MacWorld 2008. Oh.. please let this be true..

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TomTom has announced that it plans to buy its map supplier, Tele Atlas, for a cash sum of $2.5 billion dollars (or $1.8 billion euros). This amounts to 21.25 euros per share for Tele Atlas which is a 32 percent premium over the company’s average share price over the last three months. Tele Atlas is one of the industry’s main suppliers of digital maps and provides mapping information to Google for their Google Maps service.

TomTom is making this move to diversify its holdings and increase sources as revenue as profit margins from navigation equipment is expected to decrease over time. The purchase offer is supported by Tele Atlas which means there should be little resistance from this making this offer go through.

While this is certainly a win for TomTom from a profit margin standpoint, Tele Atlas could end up losing some customers – especially companies that compete directly with the TomTom hardware business. Shares of rival company Navteq also went up as a result of this offer.

For more information, read this News.com article.

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Technorati Tags: TomTom, Tele Atlas, Digital Maps