We've been waiting since the iPhone first came out, and it's finally going to happen this summer: True turn-by-turn GPS directions. TomTom's iPhone app, announced today, works in portrait or landscape mode, and in tandem with a new, optional TomTom windshield mount.
When they become available (after the release of iPhone's new operating system version 3.0 later this summer), you'll need to purchase (via the Apple App Store) the TomTom nav app and a supporting mapset. TomTom promises a full complement of US and international maps. TomTom describes the car kit (windshield or dash mount) as optional, but to me, it looks like a "must" accessory for safety and ease of use. You don't want to hold a phone in your hands for directions as you drive. No prices for these components have been announced yet.
The car kit will include "secure docking, enhanced GPS performance, clear voice instructions and hands-free calling," states TomTom, plus a quick-release charging dock. The car kit includes a built-in speaker to amplify the voice directions, and a built-in microphone to help with tasks such as voice commands and hands-free calling.
It looks like the new TomTom app will be a full-on version of TomTom's outstanding nav software, including text-to-speech, "IQ Routes" (calculates routes based on real average speeds measured on roads, rather than posted speed limits), and maps provided by Tele Atlas.
"Details regarding pricing and availability for both the application and the TomTom car kit for iPhone will be made available in advance of the product's launch later this summer," states TomTom.
