I’ve never been a GPS kind of girl. I’ve never owned one and I can’t say that I’ve even ever used one. But I know quite a few people (especially my family) who would literally be lost without theirs!
I am, however, constantly using maps and I find myself using the Map application on my iPhone almost daily — looking up addresses, searching for the nearest rest stop on our long car trips, or just trying to figure out the fastest route home because my kids need a nap, now! And, while the Map app has served it’s purpose for me, I wonder how, if at all, the new TomTom iPhone app might complete my life even more…
It appears as though the TomTom iPhone app runs just like a stand alone TomTom, offering 3D navigation and spoken turn-by-turn directions. So, why buy just the app and not an actual TomTom? Well, cost and the cool-factor, of course. But, for someone like me, it may have more to do with the idea of having one less thing cluttering up your car and the portability. With the iPhone app you can simply take your GPS with you regardless of what car you are riding in and you will always have the GPS with you, even if you didn’t think you would need it. Think about the next time you are riding with a friend and they are convinced they know where they are going….but they really don’t. Now you have your TomTom right there with you in your iPhone.
Because I haven’t actually been able to test out the app yet and have not physically compared it to the performance of a stand-alone TomTom, I invite you to check out this video by recombu.com:
Now, even though I did mention the cost above, the cost of the TomTom iPhone app is not cheap. Ringing in at $99.99 for the US/Canada version, the app may be just too pricey for most consumers, especially if you are already a TomTom owner (pricing varies depending on the country version you purchase). Now, if you are like me and currently don’t own a TomTom (or any other GPS) and are or are going to be an iPhone owner, the TomTom app is a reasonable purchase. Currently stand-alone TomToms range from $119 for the most basic and primitive model to $449.95 for the deluxe model.
Another drawback on the TomTom iPhone app is that, well, it is still your phone. If you happen to get a phone call while driving your mapping is interrupted until you finish your call, where it puts you right back on course. This isn’t a problem if you’re not expecting calls or if your calls are short but for those people like my sister who consider car time a great time for lengthy phone conversations, this might not be the best option.
Despite the few minor drawbacks I do think that the TomTom iPhone app will become a favorite among travelers. I do hope they drop the price a little though. I just can’t see, personally, dropping $99.99 on an app for my phone yet. Especially when I would want to then purchase the TomTom car kit as well!
Again, the TomTom iPhone app runs $99.99 (US/Canada version, other country versions are available) and is downloadable for your iPhone 3G or 3GS at http://iphone.tomtom.com.
If you are a TomTom owner and/or you have downloaded and used the TomTom iPhone app, I’d love to hear what you thought!
