Those who were waiting for the release of the TomTom navigation app before making your final GPS purchase decision will be happy to hear this news — the app, which has been dubbed TomTom International BV is now available in the App Store.
First things first, we can be thankful that it does not mimic the AT&T TeleNav pricing where you pay monthly, instead the TomTom app is a one-time fee similar to that of the Navigon app. At least in regards to the US pricing, expect to pay $99.99 and get maps that cover the US and Canada.
Additionally, it looks like a localized version of the TomTom app is also available for New Zealand, Australia and Western Europe.
Anyway, in terms of features, the TomTom app offers turn-by-turn directions and takes advantage of TomTom’s IQ Routes which is noted as giving you the “smartest, most efficient route any time of day.”
Other features include;
- Tap and go – Using iPhones innovative technology, the TomTom app lets you tap your way from A to B – putting you in touch with all the best routes. Scroll through the menu, or pinch to zoom in and out on a map using the iPhone’s multi-touch display.
- Go your own way – Why follow the rest See your route, your way. Simply rotate from portrait to landscape to get an easier view of the road ahead.
- Meet up with friends – Find an entry in your iPhone contacts list, and the TomTom app will find the way there. It’s that simple.
- Find a place to eat – Thinking of stopping for lunch on the way? Choose a restaurant, call to reserve your table, then find your way there – the TomTom app does it all.
- The smartest routes – Is the shortest route really the fastest? TomTom IQ Routes will always calculate the smartest, most efficient route – saving you time, fuel and money. Only IQ Routes uses the driving experiences of millions of drivers to work out your route based on actual road speed date.
- The world at your fingertips – Always be prepared for what’s around the corner. The TomTom app comes with an up-to-date, detailed map – and you can add worldwide locations to suit you.
As of this posting the pricing of the car adapter is still not listed as available on the TomTom iPhone website, however I would imaging that will be updated later this morning.
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August 17th, 2009 at 7:10 am
This is great!! I wonder, though – will the TomTom app allow other apps (such as the iPod) to run in the background while it provides turn-by-turn directions?
August 17th, 2009 at 8:05 am
$100?
You have to be kidding.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am
It is rather expensive, especially when it’s only software. Given the size of the app(1.21GB), I can see it as more of a $49.99 app. I think more people will put out if the price drops some. So far, it has a pretty good rating.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Can anyone tell me does this app work on the 1st gen iPhone running 3.01 FW and also will it SPEAK turn by turn directions like TomTom?
Thank you for a serious reply even if you feel is a stupid question : )
August 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am
TomTom needs to seriously reconsider pricing. CoPilot is $35, other apps fall far below the $99 price point. Competition in the App Store is insanely huge, and if they miss out on sales because someone buys a fully functional navigation application at half the price (or better) then they are not likely to recoup that. We don’t get trials of this software in the App Store, so the only thing TomTom has going for it is reputation, and that does not seem to be enough to win me over, even though I have been using TomTom for over 5 years. I went with ALK CoPilot instead.
Sorry TomTom, you are just a bit too proud of your software for my recession torn wallet!
August 17th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I think that tha price is way to high, I seen stand alone units from Tom Tom for about that price and that includes the software and the gps unit, and now they want to sell their software for $99? They are out of their minds, so if I buy the software for $99 and the iPhone 3gs goes for $699 without a contract, than I would have a $800 unit that would the sane as the $100 tomtom unit that they sell in bestbuy? That is dum. Tom Tom you can keep your app.
August 18th, 2009 at 12:35 am
I don’t get it. If this app is running, can other apps run in the background? I know iPod tunes can, and a call will interrupt the app, but does the TomTom come right back on track when a call disconnects or will it totally mess up my route? Ya know… I can’t bare to miss a turn just to talk to my boss. ; )
August 19th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Techgeek – unfortunately, most of their cost Is in licensing the map data, so a huge portion of their cost goes to that
mccall – I have the $35 gmap nav app, and it does have to stay running to give you turn by turn directions. Notifications can pop up over it, and if you get a call, it returns to the app afterwards. You just have to click ‘return to current route’ button to resume. It’s not bad at all for that price though it only covers half the US. Maybe tomtom should consider a half map like that at half the price.
September 13th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I love the App it good for me