topic Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android? in NAVIGATOR and MOBILE

Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

jalan — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:09:03 GMT

I am, in general, a fan of TomTom. I find IQRoutes to be revolutionary. But I also find Live Services to be so unreliability in the US that I stopped paying for it and my TomTom 740 Live sits on a shelf in the basement collecting dust.

I cannot figure out for the life of me why TomTom is AWOL on the Android platform. If TomTom is a world leader in navigation technology, why would you concede the US Android market to Google, Mapquest, ALK, Navigon, NDrive, TeleNav, Sygic and soon to be Route 66?

TomTom had an opportunity to be a leader in mobile navigation. Instead they've given multiple competitors the opportunity to get a huge lead on them. At some point the TomTom brand will be irrelevant to consumers as they learn to use other brands and like them. The longer you let a customer use free Google Navigation, the longer they have to realize that the features they give up aren't all that important, because after all, it is free.

The last unique hook that TomTom has is IQRoutes. They could be leveraging that uniqueness to drive people to their Android app. Instead, they are totally absent from the market. What an utter disappointment. And this month I see yet another shiny new PND series being released. At a likely purchase price of >$250 and another $120 per year for Live Services, those economics are ridiculous in a world dominated by smartphone competitors. Why would I buy a dedicated PND when, for the same money, I can buy a (now, dual core) smartphone and have no ongoing recurring fee?

I've always said that hardware companies (Garmin and TomTom) don't know how to think like a nimble software company. This is a prime example.

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

hope68 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:10:51 GMT

TomTom has linked up with Route66 - so the Route66 app is kind of TomTom ;-)

http://corporate.tomtom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=549627

cu Peter

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

mvl — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:54:41 GMT

Route 66 for Android is still awol however ;)

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

jalan — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:43:44 GMT

Yes, I am anxious to see this but I highly doubt it will have IQRoutes, which is about the only remaining reason to want TomTom on Android given all the alternatives that are now available.

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

realseal — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:23:19 GMT

Indeed, when can we expect a tomtom on Android, I now still have to keep my old phone (windows 6.5 mobile) for international travel and i now use google for national travel. But if a tomtom app came along i will still think about buying it. Tomtom promised already in december of 2009 that an android version was onroute.......... shame on tomtom.

And the standard replys that other players use tomtom maps does not fly with me....

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

Biffa — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:04:09 GMT

+1 on TomTom Android request.

C'mon guys get it on :)

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

colm — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 23:40:41 GMT

+1 also. This platform is well established now. Way quicker than expected I'd imagine.:smileyhappy:

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

jalan — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:24:48 GMT

I think with today's announcement from Google, it may be too late frankly. Google navigation announced today the incorporation of both real time and historical traffic into the route calculations and ETA. This is a significant advancement and if you consider this on top of all of the other updates this app has received in the last several weeks and months, I see no end to the innovation and head start that they have on every other potential navigation app. TomTom had one advantage left and reason for people to purchase it in the android market. It had IQRoutes. If Google starts using Google navigation and latitude as probes then this advantage for TomTom goes completely out the window. It is unbelievable to me that TomTom squandered this opportunity and let others get so far out ahead of them. They seem to have all of their cards in the iPhone basket. Anyone entering the android market with a new app can justify the cost of the app by showing a greater feature set over Google navigation. As each month passes however that window closes more and more as Google navigation becomes more and more sophisticated and these other companies continue to be without an app at all. As each month passes, people are learning to live without TomTom and that perhaps is the most dangerous thing they can face - indifference. I used to hear a lot of people wondering when TomTom was going to be available for android. Now those same people don't seem to care. I think that is a disaster for them. Personally, I think this is a classic example of a hardware company that can't make the transition to thinking like a software company. I also can't help but wonder if part of this isn't European ownership not quite understanding the American marketplace?

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

colm — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:25:32 GMT

How much longer before Google drops Tele Atlas so??

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

Oleg — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:46:36 GMT

Want to run TomTom on Android (HTC Desire). Where can I buy?

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

Bogi — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:15:37 GMT

There is no Android version of TomTom currently available

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

Tommy3090 — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:47:58 GMT

+1 as well.

TT on Android with HD traffic will be unbeatable :smileyhappy:

If they can do it for the Iphone with HD & on WM7 without HD, Android MUST be next.

It's a no brainer .......

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

steinom — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:01:29 GMT

Any who can estimate when TomTom will be avable for Android?

Android is the world leading OS for PPC, can not understand why not TomTom is avable for that OS.

Please inform when TT will be avable :robothappy:

Device Desire HD

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

MadBob — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 07:51:12 GMT

My live services run out in 6 months, once they are finished I move to navigon. Why? Because I have a galaxy s phone and I am fed up with carrying two devices around. So for me it will be ' tomtom not on android - no tomtom in my car'.

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

RamsfanJim — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 13:01:30 GMT

Just to reiterate the points on this forum. I have been a generally happy TomTom user on Windows smartphones for the past 4 years - always with the latest maps, cameras, traffic & voices. I have also paid for both Navigator 6 & 7 software.

I have always recommended TomTom to family and friends as the best Sat Nav available.

However, I recently upgraded to an Android device (as Windows 7 is a backward step) and immediately contacted TomTom to purchase TT7 for Android. I am amazed TomTom is accepting loss of Market share by not bringing out a compatible version.

I have now purchased CoPilot, and after taking time initially to get used to it, I have found a number of features which are better than TomTom (e.g. turn-by-tun road names announcement), and may well not now return to TomTom. I find it galling that my traffic & camera subscriptions are running out without me using them, but TomTom were not prepared to even put my account on hold - so I suspect you have now lost a dedicated customer (and many more).

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

nubbin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:03:26 GMT

I agrre with all of the above. I used to be an avid TomTom fan, and navigated in europe many times on high speed driving holidays, but since the relative demise of Windows on mobile platforms, I defected to the Android format (I'm sorry, but there is now way I am smug and self-satisfied enough to use any Apple/iPhone product!), I have been using several other very competent applications, including CoPilot, Sygic, and now Sygic Aura.

However, I still think that TomTom has the best routing software, and just about the best, and most intuitive interface. Why, oh why, did TomTom nail it's colours to the iPhone mast? Since even the Blackberry outsells the iPhone, wasn't that a very poor marketing decision?

Come on TT, get with the programme!!

Oh, by the way will you please go to Navteq, and drop the expensive mistake that is TeleAtlas?

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

v6mikey — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:02:05 GMT

+1 on the Tomtom app for android.

I now use an Android phone and have tried nearly all the other turn by turn navigation software. Tomtom still rules the roost for me. I dual boot windows mobile and android so I can still use tomtom. But it would be great if I didnt need to.

Sygic Aura so far is the best alternative but still not as good as tomtom.

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

MadB0b — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:43:27 GMT

Ah well, afrter waiting 4 years decided it was all a complete washout, stuck my tomtom in the drawer two weeks ago and bought Navigon for SGS. ta ta.

Decided not to even bother waiting for the 6 months Live Services expiry and just bought the android software.

And you know what, Navigon is just as good IMO.

Good luck to the rest of you hope TomTom don't go under with all the competition and Android outselling other Phone OS's by a huge amount. I would be sad to see them disappear as they have been very good up until now.

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

Pilot — Sun, 08 May 2011 02:18:46 GMT

Is there anyone at TomTom reading these complaints???? Nothing is getting sorted with Android, a deafening silence is the arrogant answer, apparantly...

Re: Why is TomTom AWOL on Android?

Marcel — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:03:33 GMT

I’m afraid I cannot add anything new to the discussion that has taken place here. TomTom does not have a navigation app for Android, but of course we recognize the growth of the Android platform and have been creating partnerships to leverage our map content on the Android platform. E.g. our deal with HTC: http://corporate.tomtom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=520493 and a more recent one with Route66 (which is waiting to be launched in the Android App store): http://corporate.tomtom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=549627.

We’ll keep you updated on any Android news.