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TomTom has today announced a joint development relationship with Johnson Controls, which will enable TomTom sat nav devices to become truly integrated into vehicle electronic systems.

Johnson Controls has created a ‘Bluetooth Mobile Device Gateway’ targeted for production in 2008 model year vehicles. This technology enables a TomTom sat nav unit to communicate with the car’s communication network.

Voice recognition technology will also be made available, allowing the driver to verbally command the TomTom GO device.

Drivers will also see intuitive features as a result of the collaboration, such as automatic notification by a TomTom device that fuel is low, giving directions to the nearest gas station.

The driver could also select a POI (point of interest), such as a nearby restaurant, on the TomTom touch screen. The system then could automatically dial the restaurant’s telephone number, so the driver could make reservations via his/her mobile phone using the hands-free functionality of the TomTom device.

Source: PR Newswire, Europe

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GPSreview: We are starting to get information about TomTom Car Connect, a Bluetooth device from TomTom which is compatible with the TomTom GO 510, 910, and RIDER becoming available in the USA. This device will allow you to hardwire your TomTom to the existing audio system in your car. You can choose where you want music from your TomTom to be sent to as well as where you want spoken directions to be played through.

Hands-free calling are played through the TomTom Car Connect device. Even though the Car Connect device does connect with your TomTom via Bluetooth, you still establish a Bluetooth connection between your phone and the TomTom GO, not directly to the Car Connect.

The device can also automatically switch the display on your TomTom from day to night mode when you turn your headlights on.

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Following yesterday’s news of Nokia’s new N95 high-powered phone, additional details have emerged on its sat nav capabilities.

The N95 will have access to maps of more than 100 countries and start selling for $697 (around €550), Nokia said.  Maps for the N95 will be free and services like city guides and voice navigation will be made available for an extra charge. 

With the new map functions, Nokia is challenging makers of navigation equipment like TomTom. Nokia agreed in August to buy Gate5, based in Germany, for an undisclosed amount to add mapping, routing and navigation software to its phones. 

Source: International Herald Tribune

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Over 300 million GPS receivers are expected to ship in 2011, up from 40 million in 2005, according to an ABI Research report.  GPS-enabled handsets will beat in-vehicle GPS navigation receivers in both shipment count and revenue, the report said.

Growth will result from mass uptake of navigation services by mobile subscribers using GSM handsets.

“As that trend develops, the fastest regional growth, which until now has been seen in North America and parts of Asia, will shift to Europe,” ABI said.

Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, Thales, Trimble, Rockwell Collins, Leica and Honeywell will benefit from the increase, ABI said.

Europe’s Galileo navigation satellites will boost the industry too.  The more satellites in the sky, the greater availability of the signal, and the more accurate the location data it provides.

Source: Satellite Week Magazine

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Het Financieele Dagblad: Dutch car navigation systems maker TomTom will deliver semi-integrated sat nav systems to Spanish carmaker SEAT, TomTom said yesterday.

The agreement between the two companies is exclusive and covers the whole of Europe.

The systems to be delivered are based on the TomTom GO 710 navigation tool and will be available for SEAT’s Altea, Tolede and Leon models at prices starting from €749.

The announcement follows news of TomTom’s exclusive supply agreement with Citroen earlier this month.

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Amsterdam-based navigation solution provider TomTom and Citroën have signed a partnership agreement to provide the TomTom One ‘Europe’ as an accessory in all Citroën dealerships.

Under the agreement, the new TomTom One ‘Europe’ version will now be available to European customers purchasing a Citroën vehicle from a Citroën dealership.

Citroën customers will also be able to request certain other features, such as Traffic and Weather packages, but these come at an additional cost. TomTom Buddies is another such paid service which helps to locate friends and send text messages or navigate directly to them using a Bluetooth compatible phone and GPRS connection.

The agreement currently covers Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, Denmark, Benelux, Switzerland, Austria, Norway and Sweden.

Sources: Automotive World and Forbes

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Engadget: TomTom will be releasing their entry-level TomTom One sat nav device in North America.

Retailing around $500, the specs are pretty much the same as the original, but with a new loook and reduced size.

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This fall, Philips is to introduce a range of portable navigation devices. Three devices will compete with those of Dutch TomTom.

According to Philips, the PNS series – Personal Navigation System – will offer the safest and most practical GPS solution inside and outside the car. The devices are likely to appeal to first-time buyers, since user-friendliness (‘Sense and Simplicity’ being the brand’s tagline) was one of the main concerns during pre-production.

All 3 models (PNS 100, PNS 200, PNS 150) are supplied with special cradles with built-in amplifier and speaker with few control buttons. They all have small dimensions: 10 cm long and less than 2 cm thick, weighing only 160 grams.

Philips’ navigation devices will be priced at 399 euro to 599 euro.

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