TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions, announces the availability of its latest digital map products, including Tele Atlas MultiNet® 2010.06. With this release, the company’s navigable map products now cover more than 32 million kilometers (20 million miles) across 102 countries and territories globally.

The company’s digital map database is the only one in the world that is constantly validated by tens of millions of drivers who use it in GPS devices, smartphone applications and online. Nearly half a million edits were sourced from community input in the latest release, verified through stringent review processes and incorporated in this map product release, which pushes the company’s cumulative community input enhancements over two million.

TomTom continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering the highest quality map coverage across all regions with the 2010.06 release, with updates including:

• The launch of MultiNet in Nigeria and Uruguay;
• Expanded navigable coverage for Chile and Niger via ConnectPlus™, a map product developed to meet market demand for navigable coverage in new geographies;
• Fully attributed street network coverage added for four new cities in Mexico; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina;
• Significant coverage enhancements in:
• Russia: Street network upgraded to fully attributed coverage in four cities; addition of more than 300,000 precise address points for more accurate routing;
• Greece: Street network upgraded to fully attributed coverage in 203 municipalities and
• India: Street network coverage expansion reaching 80% of India’s urban population; Street network upgraded to fully attributed coverage in twenty-four cities.
• The latest maps further demonstrate TomTom’s ability to leverage community input as an innovative way to enhance map products. For the latest release, anonymous GPS measurements have:
• Increased the road network extensively in several countries, including additional road network geometry in Canada (2,500 km), Poland (4,000 km), and Romania (5,000 km);

Enabled the delivery of Speed Profiles in Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa this quarter. Speed Profiles is derived from aggregating and processing more than two trillion GPS measurements, helping drivers to identify optimal routes and more accurately estimates travel times.
Additionally, TomTom’s latest map products continue leveraging anonymous GPS measurements to further build gradient content across more than 1.5 million km of highways and lower class roads in North America and Europe. With enriched granularity and completeness, TomTom’s location and navigation content and services are differentiated with highly precise, accurate content that can enhance ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) applications and solutions developed by its industry partners.

“TomTom remains the world leader in producing high quality digital maps because of our commitment to delivering the most up-to-date location and navigation content available globally,” said Peter Davie, Director of Product Management at TomTom. “The company is focused on meeting our global customer needs with the continued addition of advanced map features in markets where our map product coverage is mature and continued expansion in developing markets.”

How TomTom Maps are Made

TomTom has the only digital map database in the world that is updated daily with the insight of a community of millions of GPS system users worldwide, who along with the company’s unmatched network of sources help to track and validate changes. To date, TomTom has validated and processed more than more than two million edits sourced from this group of users, the largest GPS data collection community in the world.

To update its maps, TomTom captures and verifies changes from a comprehensive network of global sources, ranging from government documents and public safety officials to construction companies, professional truck drivers, its own drivers, proprietary mobile mapping van technology, as well assatellite and aerial imagery. By validating and adding contributions from individual drivers as an additional source, TomTom is able to increase the total number of changes identified by its network, particularly in geographically dispersed and rural areas covered less frequently by other data sources. This community input is backed by stringent review and validation processes and further enables TomTom to create fresher, higher quality maps and deliver a better experience for end users of its maps.

OnStar and Google have reached an agreement that will let OnStar users search for and identify destinations using Google Maps and send those destinations to the Turn-by-Turn Navigation Service in their vehicles.

OnStar eNav, a feature of Turn-by-Turn Navigation, will become available through Google Maps at the end of this month. Drivers can access the destinations whenever they choose and get OnStar Turn-by-Turn directions to the destination from wherever they are.

Turn-by-Turn Navigation is the most widely available built-in navigation system in the automotive market today.

“eNav is a perfect solution for subscribers who like the flexibility of being able to use Google Maps to plan their trips in advance, but without the hassle of bringing printed maps into the vehicle,” said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of new business development.

“The eNav feature of our Turn-by-Turn service allows drivers to keep their eyes, hands and minds where they need to be – on the road,” Pudar said. “And if they ever need help on the road, they can always just push the Blue OnStar Button to speak to a live advisor.”

The Google Maps option will be available on all current Turn-by-Turn capable GM vehicles starting with the 2006 model year and also will integrate with OnStar Destination Download to send destinations directly to the vehicle’s screen-based navigation system.

This follows last month’s announcement in which OnStar and Google demonstrated mobile mapping and location functions for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle that leverage the Google Android platform.

For the 2011 model year, OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard on all OnStar-equipped, GM retail vehicles. General Motors is the only auto manufacturer to offer navigation standard across all price points and all vehicle segments. Since launch, OnStar has delivered more than 54 million Turn-by-Turn Navigation routes, currently averaging more than 1.4 million per month.

OnStar, the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services, also announced today that it has been honored with the Best Use of Telemetric Technology in the Public Sector award at the Telemetric Update conference in Detroit.

Tele Atlas, the world leader in high quality digital maps and dynamic content, and Nav N Go, a leading navigation solution provider for the wireless, automotive and personal navigation industries, have announced an extended global agreement through which Nav N Go will continue using Tele Atlas maps and innovative products such as Tele Atlas Speed Profiles, Logistics (truck/fleet vehicle attributes) and Advanced City Models. The agreement marks an extension of the companies' longstanding collaboration, which began in 2004 and has seen Tele Atlas power a wide range of Nav N Go navigation solutions for PNDs, smartphones and built-in car navigation systems.

Through the agreement, Tele Atlas maps and content will also be featured in Nav N Go's new premium software iGO primo, an easy-to-use navigation solution that features the company's latest technological advancements. iGO primo will leverage Tele Atlas Advanced City Models 3D display content and benefit from the expansion of 3D coverage to more cities in Europe and around the world; this innovative 3D content is also featured in Nav N Go's iGO amigo and Nav N Go iGO 8 applications. iGO primo further features a new Smart Route calculation, which offers optimal routes depending on the time of day and day of the week based on Tele Atlas's Speed Profiles historical speed database. With Tele Atlas Logistics, iGO primo is able to meet the unique requirements of route planning for commercial vehicles such as trucks and vans.

"With the release of iGO primo, Nav N Go is delivering an advanced and exciting feature set to discerning end-users who seek the utmost in quality and content," said Peter van der Fluit, Senior Vice President of TomTom's Licensing Business Unit. "We are pleased to be able to extend this collaboration to support Nav N Go's most recent navigation software with our global maps and broad range of content."

"Following the launch of iGO primo at CeBIT 2010, this sophisticated and technologically advanced product quickly turned into the most sought-after software in our product portfolio," said Tamás Vahl, Chief Executive Officer at Nav N Go. "Thanks to the integration of Tele Atlas' rich product portfolio into a software product that profits from five years' experience in the navigation industry, the first of our numerous global partners will shortly launch competitive navigation devices in their regional markets and demonstrate the capabilities of iGO primo to meet every manufacturer's unique requirements."

Pioneer has added a second DVD-equipped navigation unit with the ability to control Pandora's music-service app installed on a cable-connected iPhone.

Due to strong demand for bringing Internet radio to the car, this flagship A/V nav unit, the $1,599-suggested AVIC-Z120BT, ships in June to join the $1,349-suggested 100 AVIC-X920BT, which shipped in April. Both are double-DIN units.

With either head unit, consumers control the iPhone-installed Pandora app from the head unit's controls and view a Pandora menu and metadata on the head units' screen. On the screen, consumers see detailed track information and album art. With the head unit's controls, consumers rate a song with a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," bookmark a song or artist, skip the currently playing track, and change Pandora stations.

The new model features a motorized high-resolution 7-inch WVGA touch screen display, 3D graphics accelerator, onscreen iPod/iPhone control, and inputs to connect outboard satellite radio and HD Radio tuners. Other key features include built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming from a handheld device, USB connectivity, SD card slot, back-up camera input, Tele Atlas map database covering the 50 states and Canada, enhanced voice recognition to input destination addresses by voice, and dual-zone capability to let rear-seat passengers watch DVD video on a rear display with and headphones while front passengers listen to music sources through the car's speakers.

Other features include FM RDS, dual A/V inputs, and 4-volts preamp outputs.

The head unit also features proprietary MusicSphere technology to create mood-based playlists from songs stored on a connected iPhone. MusicSphere analyzes the music library and creates 40 specialized playlists based on various musical attributes, such as rhythm pattern, beats per minute, year of the song and/or date added to the device, and feelings, such as bright, energetic, gloomy, and relaxing calm. Users are also able to create a "DJ Playlist" for a non-stop mix of selected music types, with blending between songs.

The navigation section's ECO Driving feature provides estimated fuel cost of trips, a vehicle's CO2 emissions, analysis of driving habits and generates reports with suggestions to improve fuel efficiency.

For its user interface, the new head unit provides 3D animation in the navigation maps, touch-slide controls, an expanded album-art display, two-speed scrolling, and a customizable home menu that lets users drag and drop up to 15 function icons into the home page.

TomTom’s proprietary HD Traffic service was recognized by TÜV SÜD in Germany for the superior quality of its traffic information.

During two weeks of rigorous testing, HD Traffic was found to give drivers the most accurate and frequent live traffic information compared with any other traffic information service available in Germany. HD Traffic also provided the best road coverage of all the traffic information services tested.

Overall, TomTom’s service scored 61% – which was 24% better than the runner-up.

“The results of these independent tests clearly show that TomTom HD Traffic is the leading technology in the field of traffic telematics and traffic data collection,” says Harold Goddijn, CEO of TomTom. “Millions of users can now benefit from more than 10 years of research by avoiding traffic jams and reaching their destination faster and more relaxed.”

Importantly, the tests were carried out by actual drivers on real roads. HD Traffic came out on top in every test, proving it really does help drivers make smarter route decisions that can save them time and money.

Number one for accuracy, frequency and coverage

HD Traffic via the TomTom GO 750 LIVE scored highest for accuracy, correctly reporting more than three quarters of all real-world jams. It proved 50% more accurate than the second placed traffic information service, which correctly reported only half the jams it encountered.

TomTom’s service also delivered the most frequent traffic reports – a crucial factor, given how suddenly queues can appear because of new roadworks or an accident.

In terms of coverage, HD Traffic was one of only two services that provided information on major roads as well as highways. Given that traffic jams don’t just happen on motorways, it’s no surprise that HD Traffic was able to divert TÜV SÜD’s test drivers away from more jams than any other service, including TMC.
Overall, HD Traffic provided the best quality of information on delays and jam lengths. Following such emphatic results, TÜV SÜD’s verdict couldn’t be clearer: TomTom HD Traffic “provides the best quality of traffic information” read the report’s closing comments.

For more information on TomTom HD Traffic, visit our website www.TomTom.com

Garmin is trimming the size of its newest series of portable navigation devices (PNDs) while bulking them up with features.

Three Nuvi 3700-series models shipping in the third quarter look almost like iPhones, coming in at 0.35 inches in depth. That's about half the depth of other Nuvi PNDs.

The three models are the $349-suggested 3750, $399 3760T and $449 3790T. All feature 4.3-inch capacitive-touch WVGA display.

Into these devices, Garmin is packing such new features as 3D terrain view in the flagship model, and in all models, it's incorporating new predictive routing capabilities as well as accelerometers to reorient the display to portrait mode for use by pedestrians.

All models also feature newly enhanced touchscreen-swiping capabilities. Users will be able to swipe the screen to reposition a map as they have with previous Garmin models, but now they can also double-tap or pinch the map to zoom in and out of a map as well as change the display from a birds-eye view to a 3D view, said spokesman Ted Gartner.

The new predictive routing capabilities in all models include MyTrends, which takes a user's previous driving habits into account when making route calculations. The device will remember whether the user likes to avoid highways, for example, and it will use the speeds at which a driver normally drives on a specific road to calculate an estimated time of arrival. The device will also automatically predict a route that a driver wants to take at specific times of the day. For example, it will calculate a route home at 5:30 p.m. every weekday if the car is parked at work.

Another predictive routing capability, called TrafficTrends, calculates optimum routes by using historical traffic data and recurring trends that Garmin has collected about traffic in a given area at any given time or day.

When placed in a new sleep mode, intended mainly for pedestrian users, the PNDs remember their location so that when they're turned back on, they don't have to spend any time acquiring GPS satellite signals before they calculate a new route.

Another new capability automatically reorders multiple waypoints into the most efficient route.

Like other Garmin models, the flagship 3790T and the 3760T feature built-in RDS-TMC FM receiver to receive Garmin Connected services information, including traffic and weather. Both also feature Bluetooth for hands-free calling. The flagship 3790T adds voice control of functions, voice entry of destination, and 3D terrain view, but unlike previous voice-enabled models, drivers no longer have to put it in voice-recognition mode by pressing a button on a steering-wheel-mounted remote. Instead, users need only speak a wake-up phrase that they can customize.

All three feature Garmin's Eco Route capability, which selects the most fuel-efficient route to a destination, and ability to add map of a European cities at $10 to $15 per city. The maps can be downloaded by PC or purchased preloaded on an SD card from Garmin.

The three also feature a previously available enhanced pedestrian mode, enabling users to download optional CityXplorer public-transit information on a city-by-city basis. With it, users can select a combination of buses, tramway, and metro and suburban rail systems to get about.

TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions, launched two new traffic solutions designed to help government agencies better manage traffic flows and to enable them to provide better traffic information to the public.

HD Flow and HD Route Times are based on TomTom’s High Definition Traffic™ technology, an advanced service for TomTom end users that delivers up-to-the-minute, detailed incident reports about the length and reason for delays, the most accurate delay information, travel and arrival times and alternative route proposals.

“TomTom is the authority in traffic information with a strong history of providing up-to-date and accurate traffic information to consumers”, said Anne van Houwelingen, Senior Vice President of Mobility Solutions at TomTom. “These two new solutions build on our expertise and are ideal for systems designed to provide travel times on alternative routes for optimal routing and traffic flow efficiency during road work. In addition, government institutions and road construction and mobility managers can leverage the precise real-time information to gain better control of their road networks and keep drivers fully informed along the way on a day-to-day basis.”

HD Flow

HD Flow delivers a real-time, highly detailed view of how all traffic is flowing on the road network delivered in European standards including DATEX2/TMC/XML to ensure easy integration into existing systems. Governments can integrate this real-time flow information into their traffic control centres to better monitor road network traffic and see the effects of traffic management directly on all motorways and secondary roads.

HD Route Times

HD Route Times is a turnkey solution providing precise, real-time travel and delay times for all possible routes, giving governments the dynamic information needed to update variable messaging signs (VMS) along key routes. As the data is updated every minute, drivers are provided with insight into which route is fastest at any given moment and can help drivers select the faster routes, which in turn optimises traffic flow.

Both HD Flow and HD Route Times combine information from GSM and GPS devices and use a unique fusion technique to deliver much more precise travel time information than previously available through alternate methods. Real-time speeds are provided on all motorways and secondary roads, giving the most accurate view of the traffic situation across the entire road network. Both products are quick and cost efficient to implement. As they do not require additional infrastructure or hardware installations, they do not cause subsequent road closures that could disrupt traffic flow and they are environmentally friendly.

HD Flow and HD Route Times are now available for government entities with initial coverage available for Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland for all motorways and secondary roads. Coverage for additional countries is scheduled to be added in the course of 2010. Cross border traffic information is also included in the offerings.

How TomTom HD Products are Developed

HD Traffic, HD Flow and HD Route Times contain up-to-the-minute information from multiple data sources, including anonymous GPS measurements from connected personal navigation devices, connected fleet GPS devices and mobile phone signals, road sensors and journalistic data. Using proprietary and tested methods, TomTom dynamically merges this information and makes it available in real time to industry customers in the personal navigation, cell phone, fleet management, government and in-vehicle markets. HD Solutions can be incorporated into navigation solution or routing tools to help drivers be automatically rerouted around jams and potentially save time and money, minimize environmental impact, and enjoy a significantly improved navigation experience.

TomTom shifts car navigation up a gear today with the launch of the TomTom Start2, a smart new device that makes driving even more stress-free.

New features include advanced lane guidance which makes light work of complex junctions. This feature displays all of the lanes clearly on the device, showing which one drivers should take – and helping to make navigation simpler and stress-free.

New drivers and first-time sat nav users will especially appreciate the new spoken street names feature. Because the name of the street they're entering is read out loud, they can keep their eyes on the road and still be sure of their location.

What's more, the TomTom Start2 is fully compatible with RDS-TMC Traffic*. This transmits traffic information to the device, including what's happened, the area it affects and the estimated delay. The device will also plan an alternative route, helping drivers get to where they want to be on time.

And of course, like its predecessor, the TomTom Start2 has a simplified menu. There are just two options – 'Plan route' or 'Browse map' – for a hassle-free start to any journey. Drivers can also add a bit of spice to their device with StartSkins: fun changeable covers available in a variety of bright colours.

And that's not all: to calculate the optimum route and ensure the most accurate arrival time, TomTom's innovative IQ Routes™ technology uses real historic car speed measurements from the roads, plus analysis of the time and day of travel. This can save time, as well as money and fuel.

Lightweight, with a compact 9cm (3.5") screen and featuring a semi-fixed, foldable mount, the TomTom Start2 fits right into a pocket, making it the ideal travel companion.

Availability and pricing The TomTom Start2 will be available from beginning of April. The recommended retail price is £119 for the device with a regional map and £139 for the device with a European map. StartSkins changeable covers are available from www.tomtom.com/startskins

Fiat Group Automobiles and TomTom will present their latest Blue&Me–TomTom system, developed especially for Alfa Romeo, at the 80th International Motor Show in Geneva, an event that has become a traditional showcase for innovation in the automotive industry. The first model to be equipped with the new system will be the Alfa Romeo MiTo, followed by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the long-awaited model due to make its global debut at Geneva.

Blue&Me–TomTom is a fully integrated infotainment system that lets you manage telephone, navigation and information functions on a practical colour touch-screen. The system developed for the Alfa Romeo range will feature TomTom’s world class navigation technology. The seamless integration has been supported by Magneti Marelli.

As a result of this partnership, customers can enjoy a beautifully ergonomically designed in-dash system, backed up by TomTom’s navigation technology. This also ensures a safe driving experience. The display unit of the system is located in the centre of the dashboard making it easy to reach and to see. Additionally, all system functions can be accessed using either steering wheel controls or voice commands. The great flexibility of the system, the ease with which it can be updated and the many ways in which the TomTom HOME* for Alfa Romeo application can be personalised, provide conclusive proof of the advanced technology that has gone into providing a brand new user experience.

In addition to all the standard navigation functions, the Blue&Me–TomTom system for the Alfa Romeo MiTo displays and manages vehicle information. A “Fuel Efficiency” function monitors driving style in real time, in order to optimise fuel consumption. The system displays all trip information, including average speed, fuel consumption and mileage driven. Additionally, it shows the nearest fuel/LPG filling station and the nearest Alfa Romeo service centre. In addition, the new system includes the latest TomTom functions including “IQ Routes”, which lets you find the fastest route for your journey based on date and time of travel, calculated using a database of trillions of speed measurements.

More detailed information on the Alfa Romeo MiTo’s Blue&Me–TomTom system will be made available at the International Motor Show in Geneva between the 4th and the 14th of March 2010. Special press days will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of March.

Kenwood has begun shipping is flagship $2,000-suggested multimedia/navigation DVD receiver to authorized dealers of its step-up Excelon series.

The double-DIN DNX9960 and a non-Excelon variation, the $1,700-suggested DNX7160, are the aftermarket's first in-dash navigation units offering free lifetime Navteq Live Traffic service, which delivers traffic information via FM sideband, Kenwood said. The free service is ad-supported and has been offered in select Garmin portable navigation devices (PNDs).

Compared to its predecessor, the DNX9960 adds free lifetime Navteq Live Traffic service and Garmin's advanced 3D navigation technology, which displays three-dimensional buildings and landmarks, many with photo-realistic images, the company said. Other enhancements include Garmin's Lane Assist with Junction View and a Garmin-developed EcoRoute feature, which measures the environmental impact of a driver's driving habits and suggests routes that deliver the most efficient fuel consumption.

The DNX9960 features "swipeable" WVGA 6.95-inch touchscreen with animated 3D graphic user interface. Consumers browse album art by swiping a finger across the display. Selectable skins and movable icons let users customize the display.

The device comes with Kenwood's second-generation voice-control feature, which is promoted as offering improved accuracy and faster response when controlling navigation, A/V, and connected iPod and USB-drive functions. Voice control lets users enter addresses or phone numbers; choose menu options; select points of interest, and control such A/V functions as source switching, volume control, and music and video seek.

The DNX9960 also decodes MPEG-4 and H.264 video files from an external USB drive, and it features built-in Parrot Bluetooth module. A two-year warranty is provided.