News
[Utilities]| Thursday 28th August 2008 |
The Live service uses a Vodafone SIM card embedded into the x40 devices, and monitors how fast other TomTom users and Vodafone customers are travelling on roads at any given point in time. By measuring congestion in this way, the units will automatically direct users to use a better alternative route, and adjust the expected time of arrival accordingly.
As well as traffic information, the x40 range will also update fuel prices at the nearest petrol stations, as well as the locations of safety cameras, in partnership with Road Angel in the UK. TomTom has also teamed up with Google so that users can search for local points of interest using Google's comprehensive Directory service, which should be a significant improvement over the previous POI database stored on the device itself.
Users who recently upgraded to a x30 series may feel slightly hard done by, as the TomTom Live service will only be available on
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
In addition, the company has updated its IQ Routes technology (first seen on the x30 range) so that estimated travel durations are based on how long it has taken TomTom users to travel over roads in the past, depending on the time of day, every day, at five minute intervals. Previously, routing was simply based on the speed limits of roads.
"The introduction of the new TomTom GO x40 Live series and Live Services marks a fundamental breakthrough in the quality and functionality of navigation devices, and how people will use them," said TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn.
"We don't want our customers to spend time in traffic if they don't have to. With the new TomTom GO x40 Live, we provide drivers with the best routing information available, and we help them to make intelligent decisions that save time and money, putting them back in control."
The x40 range should be available in October, and we'll bring you a full review as soon as devices become available.
Submit to: Digg | Slashdot | Del.icio.us | Technorati
