TT: HD Traffic and ONE XL HD Traffic

The Mövenpick hotel in Amsterdam was the place to be today for the launch of two new TomTom products. These products are a new step in the gathering and presentation of real-time traffic information on navigational devices. The first new product is the long-awaited “High Definition Traffic” service, which has been developed in close collaboration with telecom-provider Vodafone. The second product is a new device: the ONE XL HD Traffic: the first TomTom device to actually support the aforementioned new service.

HD Traffic

The new TomTom HD traffic technology uses anonymous data which is generated by mobile phones combined with existing traffic information sources. This way, it’s possible to determine more accurately where jams will occur and how long it will take to drive from point A to point B. HD traffic will send the users traffic information every three minutes, which is up to five times faster than with other systems. And, because the system is not limited to motorways and secondary roads, it covers at least ten times as many roads than is the case with current systems.

"TomTom High Definition Traffic information is a big change for users when planning their daily journeys. They know more about traffic flows and how to avoid them than anyone else. This creates a feeling of control and comfort. This world premiere provides TomTom users with a breakthrough solution to a structural, every-day problem and marks a significant change in mobility management and route guidance,” says Harold Goddijn, chief executive officer at TomTom. “With High Definition Traffic, drivers can plan their day in a smarter way, based on accurate and precise traffic information. We are looking forward to expanding our High Definition Traffic offering to other European countries in 2008.”

TomTom has signed an agreement with mobile phone operator Vodafone for the provision of anonymous GSM positioning data in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Guy Laurence, CEO of Vodafone Netherlands: “As the leading mobile telecommunications provider we are constantly looking at new ways of deploying mobile technology in areas with great impact on society. Through this partnership we are truly helping people to make the most of their valuable time. I am proud that combining our innovative power with TomTom has resulted in a product which I’m sure will put a smile on customers’ faces.”

ONE XL HD Traffic

Combined with the new HD Traffic service, TomTom also launches the first PND which is compatible with this real-time traffic information. A new variant of the existing TomTom XL will be shipped this week, the TomTom XL HD Traffic.

This new ONE XL will accept a Vodafone SIM card, which can be used to connect to the Vodafone network. This way, the position of the PND is continuously followed, and in that way it can add more information to improve the traffic mapping. That same connection is used every three minutes to acquire the actual traffic data, and that data is used whilst navigating and the planning the route.
The rest of the ONE XL HD Traffic’s specifications are identical to those of the existing ONE XL, e.g. the 4.3 inch touch screen and the latest map of 25 countries in Western-Europe. The ONE XL HD Traffic is shipped initially with NavCore version 7.30, a version specially created with support for the retrieval and processing of traffic information.

The new navigational system will be available from next week, with a recommended sale price of € 399,-. This amount includes the use of HD Traffic and the charges for the data traffic for one year. The subscription can be renewed every year for € 9.95/month. This also includes the costs of the live data connection.

Users group

From the beginning of 2008, TomTom hopes to expand the HD Traffic users group, and in this way enhance the service. Apart from the ONE XL HD Traffic with SIM card, other users will also be able to use the new service. How this will be made possible has not been announced yet, but on the website of the American Federal Communications Commission (FCC), it’s already been leaked that there will be a 12V power cable with built-in SIM card available. (see the photos at the side) This means that all existing users of TomTom devices will be able to use the new traffic service in future.
After the initial launch in the Netherlands in the next six months, HD Traffic will be rolled out in the UK. TomToms’ goal is to have the service available in half of Europe by the end of 2008.