M6 Toll Road - TomTom Official Response

SpeedCam

I logged a support request relating to the missing M6 Toll data, their response:

Dear xxxx,

The map data is from October 2003 and will not be updated in the near future

With best regards,

The TomTom Customer Support Team

dmac · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject:

Whats with the hangups over the toll road its just a bypass Smile

Its not as it is has a postal add or destination.
Given choice of bypass or feeder road to several estates give me
the latter every time.
We dont know how TT are charged for geo data is it per mile or
per road link (would be interesting to know just how many road
junction there are in UK)
Geodata aint cheap in UK likewise if may be unrealistic to expect
total up to date coverage.
As long as it is improving that will do me Smile

Cheers

SpeedCam · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:45 pm Post subject:

The issue is not with the M6 toll, but as you said the feeder & connecting roads, they have all changed and incorrect many no longer exist. Like you these are more important than the M6 Toll iself.

NMatthew · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:50 pm Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 8:11 pm Post subject:

I don't wish to act as TomTom's defender but I feel the point should be re-iterated. TomTom are not repsonsible for the map data, TeleAtlas are. Any application that uses TeleAtlas data will have exactly the same issues with map data and similar issues are suffered by users of the other major player Navteq's data.

I think TomTom have yet to realise that they suffer heavily when Geodata providers fail to provide this data, they faile to recognise that the majority of consumers see no differentition between TeleAtlas and TomTom.

There are three issues here:

1. Geodata providers need to prioritise, whereas a cul-de-sac in an estate may not need to be fast tracked, a major road build such as the M6 toll or other important By-Passes should be available to customers such as TomTom as soon as possible after opening. It is crazy that they insist on physically driving the road before collating the data when plans for major schemes like this will have been available for months or even years prior. Having done so it still takes a minimum 6months before this data is available to authors.

2. Navteq and TeleAtlas operate as monopolies, they charge huge sums for the map data and don't see that they have to listen to or react to requests from customers. The only choice companies have is to switch when things go sour (Navman is a case in point), it is to be hoped that as the GPS market is exploding this will change and companies such as TomTom and Navman will have major clout.

3. Application authors need to be more open, if they can't react to map data issues because the data provider is intransigent then they should say so though I suspect they are heavily constrained from laying blame at the moment. If the likes of TomTom and Navman don't realise that they will get the blame for the failures of TeleAtlas then they need to wake up and fast!
_________________
Darren Griffin

NMatthew · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 8:33 pm Post subject:

Pretty much agree with all that you say, although clearly it is Tomtom's product and they will have chosen to use the map data in a certain way - it's the lack of updates that is galling, since we know TeleAtlas do in fact have later data, not just annual releases.

The fact that TeleAtlas drag their feet on new roads is bad news, especially as that's their business! It's what they do for a living. Their raison d'etre. (See the pattern here?) Even if they insist on driving the route, do it on opening day. What we need is a "data war" with Navtech and TeleAtlas competing to outdo each other with quality of maps to attract the software vendors! As you say, a bigger market means more revenue for them to shoot for so maybe things'll improve (one day).

Do we know if Navtech/TeleAtlas/TomTom read these forums? I'd be surprised if there were NO employees of theirs reading this. So, people, do your stuff.

Neil

Mark R Penn · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 5:23 pm Post subject:

dmac · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 6:27 pm Post subject:

[

Mark R Penn · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:19 am Post subject:

gracar · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:01 am Post subject:

Given that every person who has posted on this forum seems to know exactly where the M6 toll, and all of the feeder roads are, I'm surprised it's an issue! I'm more worried about being able to go to places where I have no idea of the location and in that respect the current crop of software seems to favour one supplier of mapping - so there're pretty much all the same...take it or leave it.

Personally I'm happy with what's on offer, I get guided me from A to B pretty efficiently, and that's not something you'll read on these forums very often!!
_________________
Graham

Mark R Penn · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:09 am Post subject:

Likewise, but that doesn't excuse TomTom from being honest.

Dave · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:05 pm Post subject:

I'm sure if someone knows at either TeleAtlas or TomTom, they could release a list of roads that aren't in the current map data, or roads that haven't been updated. Anyone want to read a list of perhaps 500,000 roads ? I don't think I would.

I think people we need to bring this back into perspective a little. Data collection takes an immense amount of time and so does surveying. Never expect any new roads in a product for atleast a year.

Most GPS companies have THE LATEST data set from NAVTEQ, TeleAtlas and Ordnance Survey. If they don't then I agree they should stipulate it, most map updates are quarterly with NAVTEQ's being 6 monthly.

You also have the vote to choose with your feet. If you don't want to go with a product because there's no M6 toll road in it, then DON'T!

alix776 · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:38 pm Post subject:

ok call me daft but why not use remote dataloging (if it exists) this is how i could see it work ( this may be me dreaming)
what if you used comercial vehicles from large fleets say steady eddie or james irlams for major road changes and home delivery fleets say dfs,post office businesspost etc for local streets
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

dmac · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:52 pm Post subject:

alix776 · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:58 pm Post subject:

not knowing much about it i was only guessing how it works only an idea
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

	PocketGPS
	Web