TomTom - Third party POI alerts are no more

[Darren]

We have discussed the move by TomTom with withdraw support for third party POI alerts in some of their new models in previous issues.

Until now we have had to speculate as to the reasons for this change, whether they were choosing to remove this feature on budget models only or if this was a change that would eventually transfer to every new model.

Well TomTom have now responded to our request for an official comment on their position.

"TomTom has stopped supporting 3rd party POI proximity warning sounds in speed camera products."

Their official position is "TomTom Start2 and XL IQR2 still supports 3rd party POI, but TomTom has stopped supporting 3rd party POI proximity warning sounds in speed camera products. We do not comment on roadmaps or future products, but we continue to remain supportive of 3rd party developer content".

So there you have it, new models will no longer offer POI Warning functionality for third party POI data.


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Darren Griffin

[matthewj]

Well, if they provide a way for YOU to sell your POI through their store, then this will be acceptable. Otherwise I've bought my last TomTom device.

It is obviously a move to protect their speed camera business, but it is simplistic and naive. After all, I already pay for Live so they get their camera money. Why must they stop me also having other POIs too?

Perhaps the most useful POI warning I have is for a set I made myself of service stations. This means that the satnav sounds a special noise when we are approaching services, and we can then judge whether the kids are going to need the toilet. But no, TomTom know better so want to remove this facility.

Perhaps I'll start using iPhone satnav instead of a new device in the future. One that is open.

[BrianA]

Darren

I'm unclear - is it just new hardware that's affected, or does this statement imply that as/when the software on my Go520 is updated, I will lose the audible warnings ?
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Brian Abbott

Go 520 + Navcore 8
(was a happy PDA user until TT stopped updating the software)

[PaulB2005]

[Darren]

[Ian_J]

[Darren]

[GerryC]

[Oldboy]

[Daggers]

This could be bad news for PGPSW in the longer term.

As members renew their devices, will they stick with the most popular brand, TomTom and their reasonable, but not quite accurate speed cameras, or will they change brands to one of the manufacturers which fully supports 3rd party POI alerts?

If' it's the former, will people bother to renew their membership if the PGPSW speed cameras are no longer useful to them?

I suspect it will be a bit of both, with some of the less active members opting to stick with TomTom.
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Garmin DriveSmart 50 LMT-D

[gatorguy6996]

I wouldn't be surprised if Tomtom approaches PGPS in a few months and offers to purchase your Speed Camera database, albeit at a marginal price. It's unfortunate that the Tomtom that got much of it's attractiveness from the open platform and 3rd party software capabilities as a start-up has now decided only certain development is to allowed anymore. Even that will be squashed when Tomtom has methods in place (web-based Home) to either derive some income from the developers or develop their own software for some of the extended functions. Going forward it appears that if it doesn't come from Tomtom themselves, it won't be allowed.

They are no longer the TomTom of even a couple years ago. A shame.
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Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

[Darren]

[G1LIW]

Well, here's a great big honking surprise. Not.

Having just re-read the article, I can't really say I'm too surprised. It's about TomTom, after all.

TomTom's ability to accept 3rd party POI lists that you could tailor an alert to, was a major selling point - indeed, it was why the first satnav package that I ever bought for my smartphone a few years back was made by TomTom.

Then their customer services went over a cliff, plunging groundwards as if propelled by rockets.

First, they failed to reply to enquiries; then, they failed to update mapping - even if a fee was required. Then they failed - nay, refused - to update the software, with the "read between the lines" comments being that software piracy was obviously to blame for a loss of sales - what utter and complete rot. It was their failure to maintain and update the software for smartphones that was the cause of the loss of sales: Common sense would have told them that, had they paid attention.

Then, when a major manufacturer (HTC) released a brand new smartphone, they up and generated a bundled version for the German Market release of that phone only, tied to one network.

The release was then widened to a couple more models of phone (still a bundled release), and eventually,and grudgingly, released to retail: It was still a generation behind their stand alone Personal Navigation Device (PND) releases, however.

Now, yet again, TomTom's institutional arrogance seems to have no limits. Having captured a significant proportion of the market with their support for 3rd party POI warning-capable lists with easily adjustable warning features (distance to warning, sound used, and so on) - NOT just speed cameras, but such things as supermarket, petrol stations, banks, Cash machines, and Post Office locations, which many folks find exceedingly useful on a daily basis, TomTom have apparently decided that we cannot be trusted to use such a feature responsibly. Don't forget what they said in their press release:

[Kar98]

I blame Apple.

[DarrenR21373]

This is why I've gone to the dark side - I've ordered a Navigon 4350 Max (if it ever turns up from Halfrauds - £150 off RRP for one weekend only was just too good to ignore!) after the touch screen on my TT One became useless. It even has speed camera warnings built in for fixed cameras, which from my colleagues' devices, seem pretty accurate; for my customer POI's, it can import addresses from Outlook.

And I can purchase POI-Warner to use PGPSW's database for mobiles, specs, etc.

Can anyone else see a gap in the market emerging for Navigating.de - release POI-Warner for TomTom
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