I think that TomTom should now keep to PNDs!

In the days before the original GO, TomTom developed Navigator software solely for Palms and PDAs. Once the PND market took off, TomTom dropped the PDAs and around the same time, TomTom also dropped the compatibility of their own SDK which stopped third parties from developing add-on applications for TomTom products.

Now it appears that TomTom want to jump onto the "trendy" iPhone band wagon. Surely if TomTom want to take on the mobile phone market then it would make sense to develop for the widest market! Looking at the Wikipedia Smartphone definition, iPhone has only 10.7% market share and is beaten by MS Windows Mobile (12.4%), Blackberry (19.5%), and Symbian (47.1%).

Regards,

Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

Quite, far from being Trendy, iPhone has demonstrated a new channel for distribution of software, one that makes it simple to buy, simple to install and simple to support.

That alone has meant iPhone users buy more apps than any other device platform and that is an excellent reason to buy-in to iPhone.

Darren Griffin

That would be quite a change of heart from their stated intentions about 90 days ago:

"TomTom’s CEO Harold Goddijn, speaking today at the Fourth quarter conference call earnings with analysts, once again clarified the strategy of its company towards the mobile industry. . .
“If you look at our business strategy in mobile”, he said,” I don’t think we should aim to develops tens of small applications, with different phones, different form factors, different operating systems and different functions. That is an awful of complexities to deal with. I don’t think it would be a good strategy for us to try to do everything ourselves and build large engineering teams to do specific applications for very specific phones or network operators.
However, our strategy is based on the idea of making it simple for networks operators, handsets manufacturers and systems integrators to use Tele Atlas maps in their mobile applications and that involves not only the content but it also involves technology to be able to deploy that content in a very cost effective way that shortens the time to market and the cost of developing these applications."

Doesn't that , reduced to plain English, say they have no plans for offering a mobile nav app for the mobile phone community, instead concentrating on TeleAtlas mapping for them?[/b]

Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

That is one way of reading it for sure but Harold's statement can be read as saying they don't plan to develop for a myriad of different systems. That is not the same as suggesting they will cease offering PPC nor does it suggest they won't consider development on other platforms where they think they can recoup development costs.

Of course thisrecruitment may simply be for behind the scenes development to leverage the power of TeleAtlas/TT for other brands but I can see the PR benefits of getting TT onto iPhone.

Let's be realistic here. iPhone gets more column inches than any other brand/model and so a Nav app for iPhone would bring a lot of traffic and free advertising TomTom's way.

Darren Griffin

Darren, I certainly agree that TomTom could see benefits out-weighing the costs in offering an iPhone solution, IMO. But I don't see any reason for bringing up the mobile app intentions at all in the statements, unless he wanted to put to rest the rumors of an imminent iPhone solution from TomTom, which was widely reported to be in the final testing stages. Of course, he can always change his mind.

Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

There is also the advert that hit the streets last week that TTN7 is going on sale soon for a range of PPC based devices, this would also appear to be against what the CEO said three months ago. Perhaps its time to ask TT some questions on PC and iPhone in the morning? - Mike

Excellent suggestion Mike! While it's fun to "suppose", nothing beats a direct statement.

Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

I shall be asking TomTom for comment on both iPhone and TTN7 Retail.

I don't expect them to give a statement on iPhone but I am hoping for some explanation of the ongoing TTN debacle, particularly now it appears it will be offered through retail as an app only item despite TT's claims to the contrary.

Darren Griffin

At this year's Mobile World Congress when TomTom refused to speak to me there was a presentation given by TomTom.

The implications of this presentation were that TomTom were entering the mobile market, but not with a product, but with a navigation tool kit. It does actually make sense to create a number of different versions of the core product for mobile when you consider that the margins in PNDs have fallen to very small figures. The PND market is reaching saturation point.

Where can SatNav companies look to earn revenue in this current environment? Upsell new data or services to existing clients, something that has a proven poor take up rate. The answer is obvious: Do the same as they did with the loyal and faithful PDA market... Find a new market to enter.

Mobile phones are so ubiquitous that there are more phones than people in the UK. If you can gain just 1% of that market you will have far greater coverage than PDA and PNDs put together. It is not exactly rocket science, but it does mean getting deals made with the Telcos and pushing products through those channels. Why not start with the iPhone, then android, then hit the Ovi store... dont forget Blackberry is out there waiting too...

Mike Barrett