TomTom just keeps making improvements to its already excellent navigation and connectivity features, and the new-for-2009 GO 740 LIVE carries that theme. This time around, TomTom has added always-on Internet connectivity via built-in GSM cellular technology. The 740 LIVE doesn't have a Web browser, but it does have a nicely integrated Google Local Search feature that dramatically expands its points-of-interest (POI) database and POI depth and utility. TomTom's Tom Murray walked me through the 740 LIVE's features at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 740 LIVE is to sell for $499 (suggested retail) and is to be available by May, 2009. Internet connectivity is to be free for the first 12 months, and $9.95 per month thereafter.
In addition to Google Local Search, The 740 LIVE will also use its connectivity to pull in real-time weather, improved traffic tracking, fuel prices, and messages.
TomTom is also upgrading speech recognition capabilities in the 740 LIVE. It now accepts 130 commands, including commonly used phone, volume, and brightness commands.
Connectivity will also be used to keep the 740 LIVE's GPS almanac data updated, for super-quick GPS satellite acquisition. TomTom calls this feature "QuickGPSFix."
Also new in the 740 LIVE is an improved traffic detection feature. TomTom will be capturing and compiling anonymous location and speed data from 740 LIVE units to add to its database of traffic information. This will likely not have a big impact on its traffic info this year, but as connected GPS becomes more common and/or more data (from cell phones for example) is included, it could be very effective for delivering real-time traffic data.
A few more details: TomTom will be offering improved gas prices search (easier to categorize and sort), a bigger lane guidance database (shows an image of the upcoming exit and signage and tells you which lane to be in), and will be making traffic routing calculations based on time of day (it might suggest a different route during rush hour compared to off-peak hours, for example). Watch for a full review here as soon as the 740 LIVE becomes available.
