TomTom Launches $100 iPhone Navigation App

[JMcEntegart]

GPS manufacturer TomTom has finally launched its iPhone application in the United States and Canada. However, don't think you're going to get the company's turn-by-turn navigation without forking out major bucks.

TomTom Launches $100 iPhone Navigation App : Read more

 

[cekasone]

No Thanks!

 

[deltatux]

this would be helpful for any iPhone users who may not have a GPS in the first place, but I don't think existing TomTom users would buy this to replace their existing units until those units get outdated throughout time.

 

[jrsdav]

$100 Is a little steep. It's not like you are paying for hardware+software. I'll be just fine with the built in method.

 

[hillarymakesmecry]

$100? I thought it'd be like $20. I think the average user will pass.

 

[Clintonio]

My phone comes with a built in GPS, and it's pretty damn decent. Doesn't have all of the features of a TomTom though.

I'll also use the phone app, which I already do. No need to waste natural resources, money or time buying a second piece of hardware to do it. Especially since both can charge in the car too.

 

[cadder]

You can shop around and buy a full blown GPS for about that price- hardware PLUS software. Garmin GPS software is available for a lot less than that too. Will this be sold through the iphone app store? I thought they had a limit on what software could sell for.

 

[xanubisx]

over priced

 

[Honis]

Aren't there a million driving apps that use Google Maps by now?

 

[Core2uu]

There are a lot of GPSs out there that you can buy for $100. That includes software and hardware.

But hey, if you really need that multi-touch functionality, then go ahead and get the iPhone app. This is really nothing I would personally fork over another extra $100 for.

 

[zirbmonkey]

I have a feeling the price will drop. I think that $100 is steep, but the early adopters will pay for it for the hands-free features. After a year, I think they'll drop the price considerably. The company's gotta make a profit for the cost of software engineering. Once people stop buying it, supply and demand will bring the price down.

 

[outlw6669]

Good idea, terrible price point.
If it works the same as their stand alone GPS units, I could see maybe $20.
$100 is a rip off.

What happens when you want to change to a new phone or cancel you cell contract?
Will it become unusable?
I would rather pay a little more and get dedicated GPS hardware that is not tied to a crappy phone/cell service.

 

[pender21]

$20 which includes app updates, then $10 per year if you want new maps but free after the initial $20, then we'll talk

 

[pender21]

[citation][nom]Honis[/nom]Aren't there a million driving apps that use Google Maps by now?[/citation]
No because Apple canned any apps that provided turn by turn navigation. For OS 3.0, apple rescinded this, but still only approves the good quality nav apps.

 

[dman3k]

Lucky me that Sprint comes with free GPS.

 

[rtfm]

[citation][nom]cadder[/nom]You can shop around and buy a full blown GPS for about that price- hardware PLUS software.citation]

Yeah, I got a navigo sat nav thingy for £42 including p&p (around $80 I think). Was great, until I dropped it :-(

 

[jnjkele]

Ouch - I was excited about this until I saw the price - that's really steep for a software-only solution. 20-30$ seems a more appropriate price point given that this was a port of existing codebase that tomtom owns.

 

[Guest]

Well, considering that 30$ are for Apple (30% cut on all App store items) and that all latest maps (US+Europe) seemed included according to the article, the price could be considered normal.

I just checked the App store however and only the maps for Europe are already at 99€ (not $). Now that is a real rip-off...

 

[ubernoobie]

it's time to start jailbreaking?

 

[Guest]

Goes to show you the value of the the GPS hardware is about $30. The rest is in map generation and maintenance. Thanks for letting us know the marginal cost of production.