UK Retailer Offering TomTom Car Kit for Pre-Order

[fhall1]

Seems ridiculously high compared to a stand-alone GPS these days. How about this....when it comes out and is priced too high - NOBODY BUY IT! The result will be that TomTom will "get it" and lower the price to a more reasonable level or be stuck with inventory. But if folks rush right out and order it, the price will stay high - simple supply and demand folks.

 

[ct2k7]

Seems ridiculously high compared to a stand-alone GPS these days. How about this....when it comes out and is priced too high - NOBODY BUY IT! The result will be that TomTom will "get it" and lower the price to a more reasonable level or be stuck with inventory. But if folks rush right out and order it, the price will stay high - simple supply and demand folks.

I agree, but will people buy it?

 

[speed12]

People will definitely buy it. Think about it, probably 90% of people who own iPhones won't have heard of Navigon or Sygic or any of the other current iPhone TBT makers but pretty much all will have heard of TomTom and know they are good. Then, who is going to be the only one of the TBT apps which will be advertised probably pretty much everywhere? TomTom.

So it stands to reason that people will probably end up buying that one.

That's my logic anyway.

 

[DanBa]

A new contender at a soft price: CoPilot Live for iPhone

"Co-Pilot Live 8 is ‘spectacularly’ good and it still would be if it cost £60 for the UK version. At £25.99 for the UK version and £59.99 for Europe it is hard to comprehend the value buried in this application. It is the very best satellite navigation solution available on the iPhone at this time, and I suspect it will be in 6 months time as well."
http://www.pda-247.com/wordpress/2009/08/co-pilot-live-8-for-iphone-review/

 

[fluffer]

I personally didn't think the quoted price was too far out. It's pitched to be competetive with the stand alone Tomtom One in the UK. I think Tomtom are the leaders as I've used them in the past and prefer them to others. I also agree with giving the iPhone's GPS a bit of a boost, so the cradle is a good idea.

Rather than have an extra TT One and an iPhone, I dont think it's drastic news and will certainly be interested in it if it stays at this price. Why does everyone want something for next to nothing these days?

 

[fluffer]

A new contender at a soft price: CoPilot Live for iPhone

"Co-Pilot Live 8 is ‘spectacularly’ good and it still would be if it cost £60 for the UK version. At £25.99 for the UK version and £59.99 for Europe it is hard to comprehend the value buried in this application. It is the very best satellite navigation solution available on the iPhone at this time, and I suspect it will be in 6 months time as well."
http://www.pda-247.com/wordpress/2009/08/co-pilot-live-8-for-iphone-review/

I've used Co-Pilot on my Xda II. Personally i don't rate its choice of routes and usability at all, but thats personally.

 

[E.Lizardo]

I'll be waiting for reviews

They had better be all 5 star awesome (not app store reviews)for me to consider that price.We'll see.

 

[speed12]

I personally didn't think the quoted price was too far out. It's pitched to be competetive with the stand alone Tomtom One in the UK. I think Tomtom are the leaders as I've used them in the past and prefer them to others. I also agree with giving the iPhone's GPS a bit of a boost, so the cradle is a good idea.

Rather than have an extra TT One and an iPhone, I dont think it's drastic news and will certainly be interested in it if it stays at this price. Why does everyone want something for next to nothing these days?

Spot on.

 

[m3coolpix]

People will definitely buy it. Think about it, probably 90% of people who own iPhones won't have heard of Navigon or Sygic or any of the other current iPhone TBT makers but pretty much all will have heard of TomTom and know they are good. Then, who is going to be the only one of the TBT apps which will be advertised probably pretty much everywhere? TomTom..

Rather than have an extra TT One and an iPhone, I dont think it's drastic news and will certainly be interested in it if it stays at this price. Why does everyone want something for next to nothing these days?

TomTom, unless it's just horrible or 'out of the ballpark priced', is going to do OK with their iPhone app and cradle.

TomTom advertises on the traffic radio station(s) I listen to constantly. In fact, on one of them, it's every 10 minute updates from 6am to 7pm. And, if there's a 'breaking news traffic event', they'll update more often. Driver's can even phone in traffic issues. I don't see how any TBT navigation software/hardware can match this level of traffic reporting....

The majority of the US mentality is that 'I deserve.....' nowadays. But, not everyone over here across the pond thinks that way. If the TomTom app software proves to be commandingly better than Navigon, I'll buy the app (but my need for the cradle is not there at all).

 

[VenusianSky]

$200 does seem a bit much, but I don't know. I spent about $40 on a car charger/cradle. And what about traffic reports? I know with some navigation units, you need to subsribe to traffic reports. Will the Tom Tom software just use the iphones data connection, or will there be an additional fee. One of the main reasons I bought the iphone was for its GPS functionality. I have been waiting for this Tom Tom app to come out. Guess we'll just see if the price holds when it is actually released.

 

[speed12]

If the TomTom app software proves to be commandingly better than Navigon, I'll buy the app (but my need for the cradle is not there at all).

I think this is the key point really. Everyone seems to be focusing on the price with the cradle, which due to the extra gubbins in it is, yes, going to be more expensive than a standard cradle.

But it is only an added extra that to some people will give some useful extra features such as BT handsfree, audio out etc, not to mention the dedicated GPS chip. But as others have seen with other software, the iPhone GPS is actually pretty good and so thre is no reason why the extra is necessary, but will be available if the user thinks it is required.

But at the end of the day, its really the software we are comparing here and I'm pretty certain the Tom Tom app will be fairly top notch if their units are anything to go by..................of course it could be crap as well!

 

[m3coolpix]

But it is only an added extra that to some people will give some useful extra features such as BT handsfree, audio out etc, not to mention the dedicated GPS chip.

But at the end of the day, its really the software we are comparing here and I'm pretty certain the Tom Tom app will be fairly top notch if their units are anything to go by..................of course it could be crap as well!

TomTom's downfall (or at least a lack of sales), could very well come just from the cradle. We've all seen how the App Store reviews go.

Let's say that the TomTom cradle just rocks with getting a good GPS signal, but it sucks with some of it's other features. The reviewers on the App Store don't usually spend a ton of time separating features or problems. They don't care, they'll just say 'It sucks' to the App, and forget it's a cradle problem (or even vice versa). A draw back of the review process, but as it is now, it's brutally honest and right on 'most' of the time.

I think this may be one of the bigger issues of TomTom's release timing. A small 'we can fix that in the next revision' can mushroom into a severe beating on the App Store. And if it's a hardware problem, that's a recall waiting to happen on A LOT of units. The press will be all over it either way.

 

[Maxington]

Wow that price will place it out of the market of most users since your just buying some limited hardware to mount it and the software... zoinks time to look for a used GPS.

 

[ct2k7]

Wow that price will place it out of the market of most users since your just buying some limited hardware to mount it and the software... zoinks time to look for a used GPS.

I saw a TomTom for £79

 

[Phil Lee]

I already have a Brodit holder for my iPhone so have just bought CoPilot Live 8 from the app store. I was holding out for TomTom but have been a long term satisfied user of CoPilot. I like the app and the price is good so I went for it.

 

[optophobia]

Well if you want to save money then just get the free app xGPS through Cydia. SOmeone else mentioned it on MR so I have it installed. You definitely get what you pay for, but it gives you a good indication of how well the GPS chip functions in the iphone.
For me it lags quite a bit, and sometimes thinks you are on a parallel street, but it works. If the TomTom dock really works then I think I may be inclined to get the kit.
I am just hoping they have some sort of early adopter sale, since I didn't really want to fork out $200.

 

[cenetti]

I agree, but will people buy it?

There is an iSucker born every minute.

 

[applehappy]

Simple. I have a handsfree bluetooth module on my windscreen (very small and works perfectly) - Navigon app (doh), I charge from the cigarette lighter which is how a TomTom cradle would connect anyhow (it has to draw power from somewhere!), and if I want I can connect my iPhone directly to the car stereo aux to play music! So, no need for a cradle! Infact I can connect the iPhone to my Panasonic Car CD Player and it will also charge the phone from there as well as play music. The only advantage I can see of the TomTom cradle is that it has Bluetooth Handsfree built in - HOWEVER, my current TomTom Bluetooth Handsfree is shockingly bad as it picks up ambient noise - the little windscreen solar-powered Bluetooth set I use is far far better.

Thanks for all the info...I guess what you are saying is you don't need to by the dock? I'm sure the s/w alone will be competitively priced.

That is the down-side of such an all-encompassing dock, some won't see value in paying for things that don't need or want.

 

[MacU]

TomTom would be INSANE to charge $200

$200?

Up yours™, TomTom.

The price point for this has to be between $25-$40. Otherwise, buy a free standing unit that doesn't rely on AT&T service. Anything over $50 is a joke.

 

[fr00b]

The price point for this has to be between $25-$40. Otherwise, buy a free standing unit that doesn't rely on AT&T service. Anything over $50 is a joke.

I think the chances of a fully functioning TomTom app for $20-$40 is highly unlikely. For the app alone, I think it would be about $100, if not more.

 

[apolloa]

Co-Pilot Live 8 for £26
Brodit Cradle for £25 and clip for £15, already have a charger.
Handsfree bluetooth is built into my car.

Why do I want Tom Tom again? And Co-Pilot is pretty much Tom Toms main competitor on smartphones as it's won tons of awards.
I also think it will cost MORE then the price quoted on the website, if it's a UK and Ireland map only then I think it will be around £50 or 60 which is a rip off, add Europe and I reckon it'll nudge £90, I think looking at pricing for existing Tom Tom cradles which just charge a phone then we are looking at £60 at least for it.

Co-Pilot will in an update due soon make the software automatically carry on from where it left off with your route after a phone call. It will be very interesting to see Tom Tom's solution, personally I think they have missed the boat and I can only maybe see it being worth the money if your going to use it every day.

 

[labman]

I think TomTom

will run with the high price for a while for the people that don't care about the price. After sales fall if they fall I believe they will at that price. then after a while TomTom will put it on sale till they find a good selling price.

 

[DELLsFan]

The problem is, in my experience, the GPS chip in the iPhone 3G S is so cr@ppy, that it is borderline unusable for navigation.

On Navigon, it will sometimes lose GPS signal on an open freeway, with clear skies. By the time it regains signal, you've missed your turn... Never had this problem with my old HTC WM6.1 phone.

So, if someone is planning to use the iPhone as a regular navigation device, they'll probably find the TT cradle very valuable.

Agreed. I'm looking forward to the US release of this baby. I am not terribly concerned with theft where I reside. Though, when traveling, I generally unmount and hide my visible gadgets and accessories when I'm not in the car - so as to minimize the risk of pilferage.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

The price point for this has to be between $25-$40. Otherwise, buy a free standing unit that doesn't rely on AT&T service. Anything over $50 is a joke.

The GPS part won't use AT&T but anyway, the idea of a 'promo code' or 'redemption code' could easily work like the codes that many DVD's include for their 'digital copies'. You enter the code and the movie starts downloading.

Regarding the usability. I'd rather have a separate GPS/phone so that I can screen calls and not have to reach for the screen while driving. Oh, and what will the app turn off so that you aren't distracted while driving?

I suppose if it handled the phone part WHILE it was being used as the GPS, that would be fantastic but I don't know how these programs handle calls while running. Something like shows who calls and lets you decide to take the call or not...