Tom Tom Drops iPhone App Price, and a Country!

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tuaw.com/2009/12/11/tomtom-lowers-iphone-app-price-if-you-dont-need-to-go-to-canada/' target='_blank'>http://www.tuaw.com/2009/12/11/tomt...o-go-to-canada/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Maybe they're feeling a bit of pricing pressure? Whatever the reason, TomTom just released a stripped down version of its Navigation app that leaves out Canada. Oh my."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1260723940.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you don't need to go to Canada, and are strictly a US kind of traveler then this will work out fine for you, and at only $49.95 USD which is about half what the full version costs. This will work with iPod touch or older iPhones as long as they are running 3.0 software and you have the Tom Tom car kit with the built in GPS receiver. I haven't found the need yet for any of these GPS programs, the Google maps work fine for my needs but since we are doing some traveling this next year, I may have to break down and get one. What do you use for your GPS needs?</p>

[Richard76]

Interesting but I have 2 problems with this. The first is that I live in Canada and only travel into the US infrequently. The second is, all my life I have been "brainwashed" about how Canada only represents less than 10% of North America's population and therefore, our smaller population resides in a much smaller geographic area than the US (even though we have a huge land mass).

And yet, by removing the Canadian maps and POI's, TomTom can discount this program by 50%! I think not. This is more of a "recoup market share" move on TomTom's part after being slow out of the gate first with the app and now with the cradle.

The only good news from my perspective is that it may indeed force the other players to reconsider their price points, which may in the long run force TomTom to reduce the price of the full NA version.

And speaking about TomTom, where the heck are the cradles? Even though they are also overpriced, they appear to be the best option available to date (that is if they ever materialize north of the border).

Also, I have one question for those who have tried the TomTom app for the iPhone. When arriving at your destination, does the voice tell you if the destination is on the left or right side of the road? It seems that there has been all kinds of hype over the last couple of years with respect to TTS (Text To Speech) announcing the road names. Personally, I find it is more important to know the exit number on the highway and know if my destination is on the left or the right.