A couple of short articles (from GPSReview.net here and here, who are reporting from CES), have stated that TomTom maybe bringing lifetime map and traffic updates to devices later this year.

In terms of map updates, it appears that some new devices launched in 2010 will feature lifetime map updates, although it’s not yet clear whether there are any real limits; it’s likely to be tied to the device, but even so, TomTom may limit the updates to a set number of years.  TomTom generally release quarterly updates, and have in the past offered an £80 offer for 2 years of updates, so although a great saving, it will still be helpful, and it will be interesting to see how the other manufacturers respond.  With Nokia and Google already providing free updates for their mobile offerings, it certainly looks like the cost of mapping data is getting cheaper…

For the traffic updates, things are less clear right now; TomTom have talked about a new traffic receiver with lifetime traffic.  It appears this maybe an RDS-TMC based receiver, and of course, this may be a US only offer.

Either way, it’s nice to see manufacturers like TomTom react positively to the likes of Nokia and Google, and to continue to try to differentiate their products with services that will make people continue to buy their solutions…

More information when we have it, and when we can confirm how this will affect new TomTom units and accessories sold in the UK.

When Mike Barrett (from Pocket GPS World) went to Florida recently, he took with him an iPhone loaded with a variety of SatNav applications.  He also took a TomTom with him, but wanted to see if he could survive without needing to resort to using it.  Did he succeed? Read his article here.

This is the new Garmin nuvi 1690, which launched a few weeks back in the US, but has now been launched in the UK as well.  The important part of this device is the use of a built in mobile phone connection, allowing it to have a whole range of “connected” services, like those of the TomTom LIVE range.

Garmin are providing the following services over that connection:

• Instant Traffic information
• Speed Camera alerts (continually updated apparently)
• Fuel prices
• Ciao! Friend Finder (Garmin’s Social Networking application which also features on the nuviphone range)
• Google Local Search and Telephone Directory
• Flight Status
• Weather Forecast
• Currency Exchange
• White Pages

There are also two other useful services in the range; Send To GPS allows you to “send” your route direct to your GPS, although we believe this will involve a direct connection between your PC and the SatNav unit.  The other is Panoramio, which will allow you to plan ahead and “conveniently go online to set your sat nav’s destination”.  Little detail exists about this function right now, and even on a UK specific page it mentions this service may not be available everywhere.

As a device it features a whole raft of standard features; Bluetooth (for Hands Free phonecalls), Lane assistance, photo navigation, Where Am I?, ecoRoute fuel saving routes, and Park Position Recall.  Also, Garmin will preload the device with Pan European maps, and have stated that the online nuLink services will be available in 15 countries (not all services are available in all countries though), which is better than TomTom managed when they launched their LIVE services, which were limited to the country the device was obtained from.

For example, England (sic), France, Spain and Netherlands all offer all the services mentioned, whereas Italy and Belgium offer all but Fuel Prices, and Germany offers all except Fuel Prices, Safety Cameras and Ciao! location sharing.  Some services (although Garmin do not state which) are also available in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland.

In terms of Ciao!, Garmin have stated “Ciao!, is a patentpending social network application that links multiple location-centric social networks onto one application, Ciao! currently aggregates information from GyPSii and uLocate’s Buddy beacon social network services. Ciao! is expandable and additional social network partners are expected in the future.”

The device ships with 12 months nuLink services, and will cost €79 per year to renew (no UK pricing released yet); unfortunately Garmin also failed to provide any indicative pricing for the unit either, but this unit is likely to be the first of many well connected devices from Garmin, and appears to be a good move for Garmin, especially in the run up to Christmas.

Two big pieces of iPhone SatNav news have happened this week.  Firstly, the big news is the release of the TomTom iPhone application.  Costing £54.99 for the UK version, or £79.99 for Western Europe mapping, making it the most expensive iPhone SatNav solution, according to the Pocket GPS World iPhone SatNav Comparison page.

This app has features such as IQ Routing, but misses out on any LIVE Services, and no support for custom POIs, preventing the use of third party speed camera databases, such as the excellent one from Pocket GPS World, and there’s no news on the TomTom iPhone mount, except that TomTom have stated that their mount will work with other SatNav apps too.

Secondly, the other news is that Navigon have released an update to their application.  Some after the initial launch, Navigon have added support for multiple destinations, calling numbers included with POIs, and the ability to add them to your contacts.

Some content courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

With the launch of so many iPhone based SatNav applications right now, it’s difficult to find a single source which has reviewed them all, and compares the features of each.  Well, Pocket GPS World have done just that, and produced a comparison table showing a whole range of features, and even includes a “Quirks” section.  The only main navigation app missing so far is the TomTom one (which is yet to be released), but there is a placeholder for it.

Not just is there lots of information, it’s UK-centric (including providing the memory requirements for both UK and full European mapping where appropriate).

Head over to their comparison chart for more information.

On top of the TomTom SatNav solution we’ve already featured before, ALK have just released their iPhone SatNav to the UK iTunes App Store here.  Their CoPilot app features UK & Ireland data, turn-by-turn directions, a 3D Map display, and full UK postcode support.  It additionally includes ‘LiveLink’ location sharing and messaging, 5-day weather forecast, lane indicator and ‘clearturn’ displays.

It has been released at £25.99; the same price ALK have their Android version in the Android Marketplace, and if you are interested, there is a nice review of it over at PDA-247.

In terms of TomTom, it appears the package will cost around £114 for the software and the mount, and it’s already starting to get listed on some websites for pre-order, so we would expect stock to arrive soon, although possibly not in time for your summer holiday…

It also looks like iGO’s MyWay 2009 should be available soon too!

CoPilot content courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

Hot on the heels of the TomTom iPhone app announcement, Navigon have announced they will be releasing an app called MobileNavigator, which will run on the new iPhone 3GS and the existing iPhone 3G, and will feature Reality View Pro, Real Roadsign Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant, Day & Night Mode as well as current mapping and turn by turn instructions.  Also interesting, and possibly in an attempt to compete with apps like Nokia Apps, Navigon will release a MobileNavigator Lite, which will be free, as well as the fully featured version, which will be chargeable.

None of the SatNav manufacturers have yet to announce their pricing, or how much storage their solutions will take up, but it looks like there will soon be a nice range of options to choose from…

Some content courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

We’ve covered a number of car manufacturers working with Garmin and TomTom to provide custom mounts, and now Volkswagen have announced plans to provide a VW-specific Garmin Nuvi 7×5 mount.  The Volkswagen “Click&Ride” solution is custom made and “tailored for all models” and will provide power to the Nuvi.  It will also integrate into the car’s audio system so that all information is broadcast through the stereo.

The “Click&Ride” solution includes the Nuvi itself, and features all the normal functions you would expect of a Garmin Nuvi model; lane assist, traffic information warning of roadworks and accidents, and will sit in the bottom left hand corner (LHD) or bottom right hand corner (RHD).

This looks a nice solution for those looking for a more integrated feel, but still want the power and flexibility of a portable SatNav unit.

Pocket GPS World bring us news of the new TomTom XL LIVE, which brings the LIVE services (which we’ve covered before here and here) to the cheaper range of devices (previously, LIVE was only available on the expensive x40 range).  The TomTom XL LIVE will retail for £249.99 and the LIVE services will be £7.99 after the initial 3 month free trial.  Compare that to the TomTom 740 LIVE at £322, and you can see this may well be a very popular model.  It comes with mapping for 42 countries.

However, we understand that only 30% of existing LIVE users have chosen to renew their subscription, and do you know what; we think we know why (and so does TomTom).  You see, even if you bought the top of the range TomTom 940 LIVE, giving you full European (and North America) mapping, your LIVE services would only work in the UK, despite TomTom offering traffic across a number of popular destinations across Europe (France, Germany Switzerland and Holland).  So, as soon as you went abroad, even for a trip to France, you had absolutely no traffic information at all.

Well, TomTom have finally accepted this, and have resolved it!  To begin with, the TomTom XL LIVE will include roaming support and allow you to use the online services across Europe (where available).  However, it will take TomTom until “towards the end of 2009″ to enable this functionality for existing users.

Although it’s good to here TomTom have finally realised the benefit of providing their LIVE services in all possible countries, it’s a shame it’s going to take until after the summer holidays for people to be able to benefit from this.

Here’s a picture of the new Carminat TomTom system that will soon be available to purchase for selected new Renaults.  Unlike the majority of TomTom’s solution, but more in keeping with a traditional car manufacturer SatNav solution, this will not have a touchscreen, but will instead be controlled either via a remote or via controls built into the car itself.  It features a 5.8″ colour screen, RDS-TMC traffic information support, and still features other recent TomTom advances such as MapShare, and latest map guarantees (offering automatic access to any newer maps released within 60 days of purchase).  This screen will also be able to display information about the radio station or CD being played, and some models will also have support for displaying telephone information.

This is designed as a low cost solution, so doesn’t feature all the bells and whistles of some of the higher spec TomTom devices, but will still allow some “data” to be downloaded from TomTom HOME onto an SD card, eg speed camera alerts.

It will ship just with the maps of UK and Ireland, although it’s possible to buy maps of Western Europe on an SD card for use with the device.  It appears the first car that will be offered with this system is the new Renault Clio at roughly £500, and should be available during 2009 on the new Megane, new Scenic, and new Grand Scenic.

There is some more information on TomTom’s website here, with some other information available direct from Renault here.