Yikes! TomTom's iPhone car kit will cost $120, app sold separately

[ZilviaBot]

09-26-2009 10:25 AM

Filed under: Technology (http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/)

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/tomtom-iphone-gps.jpg (http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/tomtom-announces-iphone-car-kit-pricing/)

Though there are a number of navigation apps available for the iPhone (http://www.tuaw.com/tag/iphone) and iPod Touch through the App Store in Apple's iTunes, none had been anticipated more than the TomTom navigation app (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=326075661&mt=8) [iTunes link]. Available since August for $99.99, the app turns your Apple device into a fully functioning TomTom navigation system. Many potential buyers have been waiting, however, for the TomTom car kit that will not only allow your iPhone to be suction-cupped to a windshield just like a real third-party navigation system, but also includes a speaker and secondary GPS receiver for increased signal strength.

Our sister site TUAW has just learned that the TomTom car kit, which is scheduled to ship in October, will cost a cool US$119.95 or €99.95 in Europe, not including the cost of the app itself. This means if you want the whole set up for your car, that wallet in your back pocket will be US$219.94 lighter.

Our original hope was that TomTom would bundle the app itself with the cost of the car kit. Unfortunately that appears not to be the case, and the total cost of the app plus car kit now equals what you might pay for a mid-level third-party navigation system. Is it still worth all that money for an all-in-one device that can make phone calls, play music, play games and do a zillion other things on top of being a full fledged navigation system? Decide for yourself in the comments.

[Source: TUAW (http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/tomtom-announces-iphone-car-kit-pricing/)]

Yikes! TomTom's iPhone car kit will cost $120, app sold separately (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/26/yikes-tomtoms-iphone-car-kit-will-cost-120-app-sold-separate/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).



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[BOROSUN]

tomtom got bad reviews

i'm about to get navigon ag.

[articdragon192]

Wow, you can get a real Navi for that price.

[ronmcdon]

yeah not worth it for that amount.
$100 would have been somewhat reasonable.

Even then the iphone wouldn't have been optimal.
screen's too small.
it's hard to answer the phone, listen to music, & to use the gps.
i agree it's better to use that $200 for a standalone navi.

Besides, the free gps map function w/ the iphone is already pretty decent.
only con is that it doesn't have a voice function that tells you where to drive.

[BOROSUN]

actually the navigon lets you play music, POI, call and answer the phone. i think tomtom has the same feature, not sure.

iphone screen size large enough and there's no free gps apps. google map is free though.

[S14_Kouki]

the tomtom app is the best navi for the iphone

[epics13]

yeah not worth it for that amount.
$100 would have been somewhat reasonable.

Even then the iphone wouldn't have been optimal.
screen's too small.
it's hard to answer the phone, listen to music, & to use the gps.
i agree it's better to use that $200 for a standalone navi.

Besides, the free gps map function w/ the iphone is already pretty decent.
only con is that it doesn't have a voice function that tells you where to drive.

I dont really think of it as a con all you have to do is do some reading before you start driving, i do it all the time, just remember all the exits you have to take, i wont recommend using it while driving, however if you have someone to help it would be better, also google maps gives you traffic updates for FREE.

the tomtom app is the best navi for the iphone

I dont know about the iPhone but there regular GPS systems sure are user friendly i would recommend it to anyone looking to buy a GPS system. Its the best i ever used, n i haved garmin and magellan.

[ronmcdon]

actually the navigon lets you play music, POI, call and answer the phone. i think tomtom has the same feature, not sure.

iphone screen size large enough and there's no free gps apps. google map is free though.

You're reffering to the 'Navigon' application ? (first word that popped into my mind was 'chingon').
NAVIGON AG - navigonMenu.registrationAndActivation (http://www.navigon.com/site/us/en/registration_and_activation)

I guess that seems fair for $90.
Most reviews (1-2k) on itunes store seem favorable