AfterDawn: News

TomTom to offer lifetime map updates for North America

TomTom,, the popular GPS maker, has announced that they will begin offer "lifetime map updates," a feature that gives customers automatic updates to the latest digital maps when they become available instead of needing to download them manually.

Adds Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom: "Roads are continually changing– from new street names to closed bridges - so it's important for users to always have the most up-to-date maps. With the introduction of Lifetime Map Updates, customers can rest assured that the directions their TomTom device provides will always be the most accurate and efficient available."



The lifetime map updates will use "Tele Atlas" maps, which are continually updated with millions of miles of road and points of interest.

The company says "in order to download TomTom’s Lifetime Map Updates, TomTom users need to simply connect their device to TomTom HOME, TomTom’s free desktop software, and if map updates are available, they can be downloaded to the device. Registered TomTom users will be notified of new map updates as they become available. Typically, Tele Atlas releases maps on a quarterly basis."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Mar 2010 22:48

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• 17 comments

• Deadrum33

  The day after I purchase a garmin (no free updates) i see this...
  

  
  
  http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadband

  30.3.2010 23:33 #1

• KillerBug

  Too late.
  
  We can get the Droid for $100 now...and it always has the most up-to-date maps, with updates available as soon as they are added to the master database. You can even get a gps-style cradle for the droid; and the droid goes into navigation mode when you place it on this cradle!
  
  Now the only reason to get a GPS unit is if you run heavy equipment; as google maps still do not have the option to limit to truck routes...and TomTom does not make any GPS units with this capability either.

  30.3.2010 23:40 #2

• SProdigy

  Eh, cellphone GPS is still shaky at best. My Garmin is typically 99% accurate with the occasional "send you the long way on country roads" issues!

  31.3.2010 09:31 #3

• Deadrum33

  droid may work, phones have had GPS for awhile now, nothing groundbreaking there. why spend the extra money on a phone when i already have one, so i can break that contract, get a new carrier, pay extra for data plan...
  

  
  
  http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadband

  31.3.2010 21:25 #4

• KillerBug

  If your phone already has something equivelant to the Droid's map/GPS system, than that is just great...as far as I know, all android phones have virtualy identical maping/gps functions (though the moto droid is the only one I have seen that seems to be designed to double as a dash-mount gps). Come to think of it, you can get other Android phones for a lot less than the droid...BestBuy had one that was just $30.
  
  Garmin makes a good product, but until they add streetview, satelite images, and real-time updates, it can't touch a smartphone. (and that whole waisting your time on bad routes thing sounds annoying too).
  
  I guess if I had bad credit, and I was stuck with some junk prepay phone, I might consider getting a TomTom or Garmin...but as it is, I would not have the slightest use for one thanks to my Droid...my old POS GPS is in the city dump by now.

  1.4.2010 03:46 #5

• Deadrum33

  point being its cheaper and easier in long run for me and most people to get a GPS. I have excellent credit and a good phone but if I spent the extra $20 a month for data plan/smartphone capabilities, in a year I'd have spent more for the phone than said GPS.
  

  
  
  http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadband

  1.4.2010 04:41 #6

• jimmurray

  This is nice but will it go with my old tom tom.? I cant download updates as it is , they say there are no updates available for my version. (510go series)
  

  jimmurray1946

  1.4.2010 13:23 #7

• Mr-Movies

  I would still buy the Garmin over the TomTom as the Garmin's functions and ease of use are much better. If I was on a budget that couldn't afford the expensive map updates then the TomTom is the way to go.
  
  I'm not going to use my phone for my internet so paying the expensive monthly to use my phone as a GPS doesn't make sense when I can get a Garmin with NO monthly fees to use. Now if the new 4G provides faster/higher bandwidth and more than a 5 router connection then I may consider changing to a cell internet setup.
  
  Bottom line I doubt this will help keep TomTom a float but it is a start. Maybe they should give free TomTom's to school kids like MAC's have done as it has definately helped them.

  1.4.2010 14:07 #8

• riggarob

  I have an HTC smart phone, w/ Sprint, and I can pay by the day, or 10 bucks a month. I can turn it on and off when I like. They update the info w/ the plan, and most of the time I don't need it anyway. I had to drive to an out of the way place near Orlando the other day, so I activated it for 3 bucks for 24 hours. I too am waiting for the new 4G phone. Robbie

  1.4.2010 15:23 #9

• lindtech

  In my experience, the Tom Tom has a much more intuitive interface than the Garmin and I have used both. But either one is much cheaper alternative than paying fees for a smart phone.

  1.4.2010 18:14 #10

• riggarob

  Originally posted by lindtech: In my experience, the Tom Tom has a much more intuitive interface than the Garmin and I have used both. But either one is much cheaper alternative than paying fees for a smart phone. I disagree, in the last year, I have spent 13 bucks for the GPS, when I needed it. Even on sale, it will cost you $100.00 - $300.00 for a GPS unit that you generally have to pay to update, plus it will be out of date w/in a year or two. I have the smart phone anyway, so it's a no-brainer for me. Robbie

  1.4.2010 20:09 #11

• lindtech

  Originally posted by riggarob: Originally posted by lindtech: In my experience, the Tom Tom has a much more intuitive interface than the Garmin and I have used both. But either one is much cheaper alternative than paying fees for a smart phone. I disagree, in the last year, I have spent 13 bucks for the GPS, when I needed it. Even on sale, it will cost you $100.00 - $300.00 for a GPS unit that you generally have to pay to update, plus it will be out of date w/in a year or two. I have the smart phone anyway, so it's a no-brainer for me. Robbie You didn't read the article then, there is no charge for updates and the units will not be out of date as you can update them for no charge. I think your math is little challenged.
  

  1.4.2010 21:23 #12

• riggarob

  Originally posted by lindtech: Originally posted by riggarob: Originally posted by lindtech: In my experience, the Tom Tom has a much more intuitive interface than the Garmin and I have used both. But either one is much cheaper alternative than paying fees for a smart phone. I disagree, in the last year, I have spent 13 bucks for the GPS, when I needed it. Even on sale, it will cost you $100.00 - $300.00 for a GPS unit that you generally have to pay to update, plus it will be out of date w/in a year or two. I have the smart phone anyway, so it's a no-brainer for me. Robbie You didn't read the article then, there is no charge for updates and the units will not be out of date as you can update them for no charge. I think your math is little challenged. Perhaps, BUT, they didn't say if the updates would work on older units, Tom Tom stock is slumping, sooooo, I'll still do it my way, and save a couple hundred bucks. Robbie

  2.4.2010 00:15 #13

• pmshah

  Originally posted by riggarob: Originally posted by lindtech: In my experience, the Tom Tom has a much more intuitive interface than the Garmin and I have used both. But either one is much cheaper alternative than paying fees for a smart phone. I disagree, in the last year, I have spent 13 bucks for the GPS, when I needed it. Even on sale, it will cost you $100.00 - $300.00 for a GPS unit that you generally have to pay to update, plus it will be out of date w/in a year or two. I have the smart phone anyway, so it's a no-brainer for me. Robbie I don't know about the US but in my country Nokia 5800 is available for around US$ 250/-. You can update the maps via your PC for free without subscribing to any specific mobile service provider.
  
  BTW this is GSM 3G version. We also have the lowest cost service in the world. It costs me mere US$ 2.50 per year for unlimited incoming calls and text messages + US$ 2.25 worth of outgoing services, US$ 0.01 per outgoing text messages and US$ 0.02 per minute for outgoing voice calls.

  2.4.2010 00:43 #14

• riggarob

  Originally posted by pmshah: Originally posted by riggarob: Originally posted by lindtech: In my experience, the Tom Tom has a much more intuitive interface than the Garmin and I have used both. But either one is much cheaper alternative than paying fees for a smart phone. I disagree, in the last year, I have spent 13 bucks for the GPS, when I needed it. Even on sale, it will cost you $100.00 - $300.00 for a GPS unit that you generally have to pay to update, plus it will be out of date w/in a year or two. I have the smart phone anyway, so it's a no-brainer for me. Robbie I don't know about the US but in my country Nokia 5800 is available for around US$ 250/-. You can update the maps via your PC for free without subscribing to any specific mobile service provider.
  
  BTW this is GSM 3G version. We also have the lowest cost service in the world. It costs me mere US$ 2.50 per year for unlimited incoming calls and text messages + US$ 2.25 worth of outgoing services, US$ 0.01 per outgoing text messages and US$ 0.02 per minute for outgoing voice calls. Wish we were so lucky. The US corps are so f^*ked up, you play their way, or not at all. I hope all of the incombant Congressmen get voted out, and TRY to send them a message about taking bribes, and not working for the voters.

  2.4.2010 00:50 #15

• Slimboy

  I will still stick with a separate SatNav even though I have a Nokia 5800 with FREE navigation.
  
  Nobody has mentioned that most people tend to change the phone every 12/24 months. What if the next "must have" phone does not have GPS.
  
  I have never been one to go for the "all in one" option due to fact that if broke you ad lost everything. I would always go with the separate printer and scanner rather than a combined unit.
  
  Plus the "does everything" phone never seems to be the best at any of them (apart from making calls and sending texts :) ). Even though my phone will do any of the following I still have...
  A digital Camera
  A MP3 Player
  Console (normal and handheld)
  SatNav
  Pocket PC
  
  I even use the phone as a "Sports Tracker" whilst on the bike but I still have the standard cycle computer on the handlebars...

  2.4.2010 08:44 #16

• bedford800

  my tomtom has given me three loud beeps - sounds like a warning - then nothing for a few minutes. then it repeats. it isn't always. it has happened several times. anyone know what it means?

  27.7.2010 12:05 #17