This is a continuation of our coverage of the TomTom on the iPhone story. In brief, TomTom developed an App for the iPhone that makes use of the built-in GPS. This would mean a navigation system that is up to the quality of a stand alone unit. Then, it was discovered that the iPhone SDK rules have a special clause that bars Apps from providing navigational services. This disconcerted some and set in fears that the iPhone might have only one (and possibly lame) navigation program available to users.
This week, Yann Lafargue of TomTom France has cleared up his company’s position in an interview with MacGeneration (in French or translated). Basically, Lafargue believes the SDK rule is to reduce the liability Apple would face if the App lead to injury based on bad directions or something. His company is not sure whether they will release the software or not (probably because they are talking to Apple about this very issue), but they do not see the SDK rule as a restriction as much as a piece of legal insulation. TomTom definitely sees the iPhone and other smartphones as a new market and they are interested in becoming involved in that market.
It has been surprisingly hard to come by any serious information until now. This is a good step, though, as competition between GPS navigation softwares will undoubtedly improve quality.
[Via iLounge] [Image from Unbeatable.co.uk]
![Glowing Apple logo mod for 2G iPhone [Video]](http://www.iphonefreak.com/wp-content/themes/freshnews/thumb.php?src=http://www.iphonefreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/iphone-apple-light-21.jpg&h=28&w=28&zc=1&q=80)
June 15th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
There are some serious liability issues with providing individuals access to GPS interfaces. This came from a contacts inside Apple. Potentially, with very little money you could provide terrorists with way to steer missles, ect. Just not everyone and their dog should have the ability to interface with the software.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
A way to steer missiles… seriously. Two different controls systems.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:05 am
As if they do not already have that capability. For 20-30 bucks, you can get a cheap, but fairly accurate usb GPS receiver and if you are not ethically challenged, pirate all the software you need to run the receiver and mapping software on pretty much any laptop. Add in the ability to tie that in with other software, and any “terrorists” have almost military grade equipment. Worrying about that is the least of any GPS providers worries.
What they are worried about are the idiots that turn their brains off and blindly follow a disembodied voice’s directions on when and where to turn without checking. They are going to sue, if they live through it, and so will the victims of those idiots actions. Thant is what they need to worry about.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
TomTom for iPhone would save me from buying another GPS device for my car. Any phone manufacturer that believes that people will injur themselves through the use of a gps, should be putting gps receivers in their phones. Google Maps with GPS directions requires more of the driver’s attention than would tomtom.
Security is not, nor should it be a concern. The google maps interfaces to the gps, and provides insanely accurate geo location services, with a satellite overlay… this would be of a cause for alarm than a GPS navigation app.
I for one, cannot wait for the new tom-tom iPhone app.