TomTom Developing GPS Module for iPhone?

Love the idea.

I'm taking "GPS" of my xmas list until after the new year.

I was really hoping that Apple would partner up with Garmin because both are US companies and Garmin is the originator in GPS Navigation, but I believe Garmin is in contract with that Helio device. I don't know if that contract means they cannot develop for another product.

Looks fake to me. It looks kinda like the device plugged into the bottom is really just under the iPhone and sticking out some. The lower half of the phone looks slightly raised compared to the upper half to me.

Maybe I'm just nuts.

Would not be surprised, although they could just use bluetooth like the kit they use for Palm, Symbian and Windows mobile.
Also I recall mention of RouteBuddy wishing to produce an iPhone version.
Hope someone makes one, I'd definately buy a GPS system for my iPhone

This would be a spectacular add-on to the iphone.

What can't this thing do? Or rather, what isn't this thing capable of in the future?

I WANT IT IN CANADA!

If this actually exists, I see this as only the first of a whole bunch of add-on hardware accessories for the iPhone. It would be ever more full of awesomeness if it works with the iPod touch as well...

Anyone but TomTom would be nice, practically ....

Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to see any new hardware come out that might be of use to people.... But at the same time, I wish someone other than TomTom was building this for the iPhone.

Garmin would be a great choice, but hey - I'd be fine with Magellan, or even Lowrance, or Navigon.

The problem with TomTom is, they don't use Navteq map data on any of their devices. They use a competing supplier of map data, and they're not as accurate or up-to-date as Navteq's maps. (At least for those of us in the United States.)

veneficuss said:

I was really hoping that Apple would partner up with Garmin because both are US companies and Garmin is the originator in GPS Navigation, but I believe Garmin is in contract with that Helio device. I don't know if that contract means they cannot develop for another product.

Click to expand...

afd said:

Would not be surprised, although they could just use bluetooth like the kit they use for Palm, Symbian and Windows mobile.

Click to expand...

No data can travel on the iPhone's Bluetooth. I wish it could, or that they would enable it. Then I could use my tomtom 910 with my iPhone. Yes, I can use it for phone, but I would really like some traffic updates on it while out and about.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

This would be really cool if it is true. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I'd buy it.

I'd buy it too...

Especially if AT&T lightened up a little on the monthly fees for it.

Maybe if someone else was reporting it, I would believe it.

I can't even hear my speakerphone in the car.

How would I hear spoken directions?

Face it, the iPhone's speaker isn't loud enough. Great concept, though.

veneficuss said:

I was really hoping that Apple would partner up with Garmin because both are US companies and Garmin is the originator in GPS Navigation

Click to expand...

Huh?

I know Garmin is a US company but never heard of anything about them being the 'originator'.

Give me a TomTom anyday! TomTom is becoming the generic word for 'in-car GPS' in the UK. Plus Garmin are hated for the annoying christmas advert they currently have running

Anyone checked the photo up close yet?

Gimme!!

I've been wanting this for months! Hope it's true!

I have never had a problem with Tom Tom Maps - and I haven't updated my nav for 2 years. Tom Tom has been solid for me and they really are one of the top selling units in the US.

ShadowHunter said:

Looks fake to me. It looks kinda like the device plugged into the bottom is really just under the iPhone and sticking out some. The lower half of the phone looks slightly raised compared to the upper half to me.

Maybe I'm just nuts.

Click to expand...

Well, I don't know if you are not nuts , but yeah it looks that way to me too. Its obviously up under the iPhone, you can tell its not connected to the port on the bottom.

afd said:

although they could just use bluetooth

Click to expand...

Not with the iPhone in its current state they couldn't

Doug

iCar

It's a bad idea. GPS navigation is most useful while driving. The iPhone can be a difficult and dangerous device to use in the car (while driving); but in the car is where I use the thing the most. Apple needs to design an in-dash touchscreen device that syncs with your iPhone, but can be operated safely while driving.

It's only a matter of time before someone gets killed because they were trying to use Google maps or iTunes on their iPhone while driving.

Bluetooth?

Could they not also use BlueTooth to communicate with the iPhone? If that's the case, you wouldn't even need to plug in.

The GPS is so important that it should be built-in the iPhone; not just as an external add-on module!

I hope this isn't fake - I love the iPhone's gorgeous screen and when I got my Garmin I was sad it wasn't up to the same spec.

If this device is real and if Tom Tom developed this with an advance copy of the SDK from Apple, it might be a good indicator that the next version of the iPhone will not have integrated GPS. Nice feature to have, but not one of the first things I'd want to see added.