TomTom Rider

TomTom have launched a new Rider. I was going to post a piture of it, but it is exactly the same as the old Rider. I suppose they have fixed all the problems with the previous version, that more or less made the product unusable.

TomTom/Garmin and mobile handsets

Rumour is that TomToma and Garmin are getting into the business of Mobile handsets. The mobile handset companies like Nokia and Motorola have started building in GPS to their handsets, so it makes sense for TomTom and Garmin to turn the tables.

I think TomTom and Garmin are in a good position to make quality handsets. Especially Garmin, who have much more experience with hardware.

Garmin nuvi 200

Heard a rumour that Garmin are going to launch the nuvi 200 at CeBIT this year. This is going to compete head on with the TomTom ONE...I wonder what functionality they are going to take out of the 300 to reduce the price of it...

Sat Nav with a Sim card

The new TomTom 715 is going to have an option to add a built in sim card. Interesting move, since some car companies tried this, and it did not take off. Basically, it is tricky to get your sim out of your phone etc...

This might be usefull for companies who have drivers on the road and do not want them to phone all their friends etc...it is probably easy to restrict the numbers that the TomTom can dial .

Still, I reckon it is more of a gimmick then an useful product.

TomTom DUO

TomTom has a new nav product that is going to be launched in Cebit. It is called the Duo and is kinda like a grown up version of the TomTom ONE. This seems to have very similar features to the GO series, hands free calling etc...but can also connect up to the car radio using a FM transmitter. Looks like a nice device...but nothing spectacular from an innovation perspective...this is just like the nuvi 670.

Motorola enters the Sat Nav market

Motorola are entering a crowed market place already domination by Garmin, TomTom and Route 66. Sat Nav on your smart phone. Their product called MotoNav, it comes with a nice looking bluetooth GPS receiver and the software on the memory card. Expected to be out in Q2 2007...

Using Sat Nav is safer

The good people at TomTom have published a study that claims using sat nav is safer...it states that:

• improves driver behaviour when driving through an unknown area
• heightens awareness and reduces stress
• people who use a sat nav have 12% less damage claims
• reduces miles driven by 16%
• reduces travel time by 18% when driving through an unknown area

largely i concur with this, I use a Garmin, so i guess the same is true for that product.

Garmin open up API to Fleet Management companies

Garmin have signalled an opposite strategy to TomTom with regards to vehicle tracking and fleet management. Where TomTom have their own solution in TomTom Work, Garmin are opening up the sat navs, to allow any other FM company couple their technology with it.

This is an interesting tactic, and could boost sales of the Garmin sat navs in the BTB market. Currently GPS-Buddy and Beacon Wireless are the only 2 companies providing this solution.

Blackberry with Built in GPS

Blackberry have entered the integrated GPS market with their new 8800. Looks a nice device but the GPS is only designed to work with Blackberry maps. There is also a microSD memory slot so you should be able to run 3rd party sat nav software.

As ever, batter power is the big issue. Any integrated GPS unit i have used has really drained the battery, which is not good for phone users.