More Details on TomTom for iPhone: Mount Has its Own GPS Chip
Update: My road test and review of the TomTom Car Kit windshield mount is now posted.
Update: TomTom has posted a video in its official YouTube channel that shows the iPhone "car kit" windshield mount in more detail, including a cutaway showing the GPS chip, location of the microphone, charge port, sound aux jack, speaker, suction mount, and adjustability features.
Update: TomTom for iPhone is now available in the App Store, in four versions including U.S. & Canada ($99.99); Western Europe ($139.99); Australia ($79.99) and New Zealand ($94.99). No word yet on availability date or price of the windshield mount, which is an important part of the package (details below). Two features of interest: "Tap and go" lets you zoom in or out on a map and use the iPhone's touch screen to select route start and end points. TomTom for iPhone also lets you navigate from entries in your contacts list. Watch for additional information and a full review here.
After TomTom's announcement of TomTom for iPhone at the Apple's developer's conference, I had quite a few questions that weren't answered in the demo. Fortunately, I was able to catch up with Tom Murray, TomTom's vice president for market development, to see what I could pry loose. Everyone has assumed that a company like TomTom or Garmin could create a terrific app for the iPhone, but TomTom's multi-featured, docking windshield mount took everyone by surprise. For example, in the demo, TomTom stated that the mount "enhances" the iPhone's GPS. Really? How so? Turns out, the windshield mount actually has its own GPS chip and antenna inside, and when the iPhone is docked to the mount, it relies on the mount's GPS, says Murray. Wow. So much for depending on the iPhone's anemic GPS. The mount will "enhance reception in challenging areas, such as among tall buildings," says Murray. I was also curious about how maps for TomTom for iPhone will be sold. Mapsets will be bundled with the app software, says Murray. For example, if you want North America, you will purchase the app version that includes the North America mapset. They will be downloaded and installed together on purchase. If you want a mapset for Europe, you will need to purchase the European version of the app separately, and you will have separate apps on your phone for each region. Here are some more details on the TomTom for iPhone windshield mount/dock:
- The windshield mount/dock is optional. TomTom for iPhone app will run without it.
- Mount has a built-in, standard one-eighth inch audio-out jack. Can run a cable to car aux audio.
- It includes a microphone and speaker.
- It enables hands-free calling via its mic and speaker.
- It charges the iPhone.
Murray would not announce a release date (still officially "later this summer") for TomTom for iPhone, or provide pricing for the apps/mapsets, or windshield mount. Also, he could not comment on whether there would be a monthly fee associated with using the app (this seems unlikely, since Apple's App Store isn't set up for monthly-fee type billing). Image © TomTom
Comments
Were you able to determine if there’s a line-out port on the dock, for piping the audio into the car’s aux input?
What do you do if the phone rings while needing direction? I’ll keep my nav separate thank you.
glenn on my ancent p990 when the tomtom is running you can get a call it still displays maps while you talk you just dont have the vocal
seems like the iphone would do something similar
although were 2 versions of the software on so it may be even more slick
RE audio-out jack: I confirmed this with TomTom and added to the post. FZ
The mount looks like a good idea. However, it looks to me like the mount will only accommodate an *uncased* iPhone. What about those of us that have a ‘permanent’ case? I certainly do not want to uncase my iPhone every time I want to use the mount!
Good point re use with iPhone case. Looks unlikely. However, you could go with a generic phone mount that is more adaptable (but lacks all the TomTom features such as GPS chip and charger). See http://www.arkon.com.
The Windshield Mount answers my question about how the TomTom app will stack up against Garmin’s Nuviphone. Of course, Garmin will always have its GPS chipset wherever you go where the TomTom app will only have it while in the car.
I’m also surprised TomTom isn’t allowing people to download the app for free and then using In-App Transactions to download the maps separately. Having multiple apps doing the same thing (just with different locations) seems a little silly to me.
What about a steering wheel remote? There is no way to control audio playback without handling the phone if you are using this dock (or activate Voice Control for that matter). A little strap-on steering wheel remote would be perfect, with play/pause, skip forward, skip back, shuffle, and a multifunction call answer/activate Voice Control button. That is the only thing missing and keeping this from being the perfect solution.
Does anyone know if the Tom Tom app will source your address/contacts so that you can point it towards “Dad” or “Work” or something like that ?
If the car mounting has it’s on gps chip, will it work with an iPod touch on firmware 3.0?
Brandon, Parrot do a carkit with these features (I don’t think you’ll get a low cost remote on it’s own)
Paul, the TomTom app will pull addresses from your contacts (see the WDC demo on-line at iphone.tomtom.com)
Does anyone have a release date yet?
Will the app be able to store a route so that one can look at it later (like when hiking), and if so, can the route be exported or mailed for use with google maps etc?
Sure would like to know the release date!! I can’t wait to get one of these.
Nobody else is close to offering true Nav (with or w/out the cradle), amplified voice commands, Hands free calling, aux out to stereo (line out, not headphones). It just sounds incredible. Just what I want.
Looks like you’re right about the mount. Just about everybody has their iPhone in a case, but these idiots keep making mounts for an uncased phone. Going with a generic mount – you lose the antenna & GPS chip (read someplace mount also has chip). Arkin only makes 2 mounts that will work with a cased iPhone. They emailed me the product #s, but I lost it.
I’d wait and see, it’s a clip-in mount….might accommodate some low profile cases.
It is possible for TomTom to have a month by month fee. There are other apps (even GPS apps) that make you pay this. (eg. AT&T turn by turn GPS software is free, but you pay $10 a month to AT&T to log in to the app.)
In the tomtom iphone demo i noticed that there is no ( TEXT TO SPEECH ). What you guys think about that? If I had to pay a monthly fee to use the tomtom app, I certainly would not be intrested in it. There are so many stand alone gps out there that is available and reasonable and with larger screens I can’t see that they will attach a fee especially in these hard times.
I can’t really see TomTom charging a monthly fee. They don’t charge one for their stand alone models. All you’re doing is buying the software that runs on them. Unlike AT&T, who want to charge you a monthly fee for everything they can. I can’t wait until Apple opens their iPhone up to more providers.
What I’d like to know is will the app support the traffic option like their standalones do. I already own a 920T, and take it with me when I travel. It’s nice having it route me around traffic during the busy times.
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF THERE IS ANY TEXT-TO-SPEECH IN THIS TOMTOM APP FOR IPHONE ?
It would be rather ridiculous if this feature is ommited since it plays a crucial roll in helping to keep your eyes on the road which is the intent of TOMTOM.
I see how the mount connects through the dock adapter on the bottom for charging, but it doesn’t seem to have an output. I like being able to plug my touch into my stereo via USB. I’d be even more convinced to upgrade to an iPhone if I could control music via USB. The stronger GPS antenna is great but not if you can’t use a case or USB stereo controls…
You know, iPhones were not built to run properly with a case on them. It leads to a higher risk of overheating. Besides, as Pouge said, why would you want to put a case over such a beautiful phone? It looks really silly with those clunky cases too.
Gagh! I can’t abide case-whiners. The phone is a work of art, and if you choose to clamp it into some ugly works then you just have to live with the consequences. I just recently upgraded from my Gen 1, and after 2 years in my pocket and loads of concrete nosedives it still looks great. Once a manufacturer starts trying to accommodate cases, their product stops fitting well.
Completely agree with zeiben. I cant understand the case argument. You buy a piece of art and then you hide it. Its almost not worth having one!
Proclip makes a nice dock for the uncased or cased iPhone . I just can’t put a condom on my phone. It’s just a work of art and the size is one of it’s strong points. A case is like putting a bag over a beatuiful woman.
haha, its a phone, not a work of art you idiots!
Tomtom needs to incoperate a magnifing solution in their mount for the iphone. What do you guys think about that? MAXIAIDS offers a magnifing attachment but its kind of clumzy and unattractive also expensive.
Inorder to really appreciate navigating on any smartphone i think their has to be some kind of magnifing solution which will help the straining on the eyes. Does anyone have such issues?
Without a Mophie battery case, the phone is worthless for half of every day. There is no way to keep an iPhone charged for folks who are truely on the road unless you want to carry portable chargers all the time. Without the case, I couldn’t use the phone.
Piece of art..wow. You guys really need some perspective. It just a freakin phone.
There is no way there will be a monthly fee.
I have a problem that the only mount offered is one that sucks. — That is, a suction cup for the windshield. Some windshields are a looong way from the driver. I would modify it to attach to an air conditioning duct. Or something…..
Tom-tom ok, but when?? They talking about that for a too long time period….And now we have great Mobile-Navigator for europe and for US and we have Igo My way with maps of europe and US. And probably Garmin will finish app for IPhone before Tom-tom..So I don’t see any reason to wait anymore…..
Hi,
i’m concerned by one thing :
this dock seems to lock the dock port of the iphone for the gps purpose. However, i’ve a car sound system that supports iphone/ipod and that use also this dock port to play and control music.
I would need to choose what i want to use : music of the iphone or GPS…
I think the TOMTOM GPS mount is an intresting device because it will enhance the performance of all the other GPS ’s on the IPHONE to function at an optimum level because of the embeded GPS in it. I have downloaded navigon and igo my way , but I think they need the tomtom mount in order to get the best result. I think that TOMTOM is trying to sort out all the the bugs in their software before its release. Also we may finally get TEXT-TO-SPEECH, which we haven’t gotten so far. I heard that SYGIC DRIVE is about to in- cooperate this feature in their next UP DATE; we’ll SEE!!!!. For the person who wants to get his gps at closer range instead of bieng mounted on the windshield, just get a friction dash mount.
Garmin is not intrested in releasing any app for iphone because thet are comming out with their nuvifone in last quarter.
I think really think that when tomtom finally releases their bundle, it will be complete and a blast.
Anyone know if the software is included in the price when buying the mount.
I experience that voice navigation does not work on the iPhone 3G. Is this function only enabled by using the car kit?
I purchased the G maps us E edition app and use it with the 3GS iPhone. It is very accurate and has voice navigation. It may be something people want to try out for half the price of the Tom Tom app.
I bought the Gmap based on an exhaustive comparison of all reviews and I gotta say it totally sucks. I can’t get out of my neighborhood without it asking me to take detours down small side streets, I’m driving down the highway to the next exit 20 miles away and it starts telling me to make a u-turn on the overpass I just drove under, it’s constantly telling me “recalculating the route” three or four times in rapid succession in one block… major PIA. I got it because I didn’t want to pay $100 or the monthly AT&T fee, but the AT&T app at least doesn’t screw with my head like this. And at the end of the trip, its voice says as fast as possible, “EndoftheroutegoodBYE!” like it can’t wait to get rid of me. Well, it did its best to get me lost, LOL. I want my money back.