News: Microsoft possibly interested in TomTom Options

[Rob Ot]

Posted News:

Microsoft possibly interested in TomTom

According to stock analists, software giant Microsoft is interested in taking over Dutch PND manufacturer TomTom.

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The yourNAV team

[zedfore]

But as the saying goes: 'where there is smoke, there is fire...'

In the computer industry, with its proclivity for baseless rumours, the saying might be better paraphrased to 'where there is smoke, there is hot air...'

[wolftec]

Tomtom Genuine Advantage anyone?

One thing that looks a lot of fun with this news is that TomTom uses Linux on the GO's while most competitors use Windows CE or Windows Mobile.

[Bart]

That was my first thought also.

[stingray]

WHAT?! and the TomTm software be even more buggy?!! You'll be seeing GPF's or Invalid Page faults soon on your TomTom!!! Just look at the Pocket PC OS then compare that with likes of Symbian!! Get my drift?!

This post has been edited by stingray: Jul 5 2006, 17:54

[Colin K]

I wondered why Bill Gates had decided to stand down!!!

[ReSe]

This is just bullshit, just like the "new" maps TomTom is going to sell in "the near future".

[Andy_P]

just like the "new" maps TomTom is going to sell in "the near future".

Don't understand.... TomTom usually release new maps once a year around July/August.
We are only 5 days into July so far and those who know more than me have hinted that they are imminent.

[Colin K]

This is just bullshit, just like the "new" maps TomTom is going to sell in "the near future".

Looks like something else has just crawled out of the woodwork. (Also, grammatically, it is new maps ARE, not IS). And, you are correct, your post is just bullshit.

[fsavard]

Vista also will be available in the near future...

[TimTim]

C'mon all how do you think Melinda has been navigating around the world finding the foundation's good causes? It's Tom Tom! The answer to poverty and famine. Add that to your POI list.

[ReSe]

(Colin K) Looks like something else has just crawled out of the woodwork. (Also, grammatically, it is new maps ARE, not IS). And, you are correct, your post is just bullshit.

Thankyou Colin

[ReSe]

Don't understand.... TomTom usually release new maps once a year around July/August.
We are only 5 days into July so far and those who know more than me have hinted that they are imminent.

Ok, I didn´t know that they release new maps once a year around July/August. I thought they did it more often, at least they should do it twice a year I think.

[stuming]

... there goes the support for Macs then.

[Andy_P]

I didn´t know that they release new maps once a year around July/August. I thought they did it more often, at least they should do it twice a year I think.

I'd definitely agree with that....

[Mick Walsh]

Let's hope that when "incremental" map updates become available we'll be able to constantly keep our maps up to date!!!!!!!!!

[giversen]

Let's hope that when "incremental" map updates become available we'll be able to constantly keep our maps up to date!!!!!!!!!

Does TomTom have any plans on providing "incremental" map updates more often?

Quote from http://tomtom.com/howdoesitwork/page.php?I...amp;Language=1:

On average, 5% of roads are altered in some way every year. So with a paper map that’s only 2 years old, you have close to a 1 in 10 chance of being wrongly directed with each reading you take!

In fact, given the time-lag between getting the data for the maps and then drawing them up, getting them typeset, printed, distributed and so on; a new paper map is already out of date before the ink on it is dry.

The on-going challenge to digital mapmakers is to reduce the delay between a change occurring in the road system and its appearing in the map in your navigation system.

What about the time-lag between updating the digital maps, make them ready for distribution/download and distribute them/make the available so they can be downloaded?

Quote from http://tomtom.com/howdoesitwork/page.php?I...amp;Language=1:

The vans also carry a differential GPS receiver, fibre-optic gyro, odometer and up to 4 PC’s equipped with tailor-made programming to process data on board.

It means TeleAtlas can build up a library of information and, more importantly, that your TomTom maps are updated to reflect changes in the real world as soon as possible after they occur.

Are one year or more as soon as possible?

[DarrenUK]

I steered away from Windows based navigators, because I always thought that Linex was supposed to be a more stable OS.
If Microsoft does acquire Tomtom, then it's another nail in the coffin as far as Tomtom customers are concerned. Software will become even more buggy, with security threats that could potentially allow bluetooth spread viruses to infect each device. Microsoft would gladly stuff up anything as long as they could sell upgrades that "fix" their shoddy work.
I sincerely hope that this news of a take over is just a rumer!

[wolftec]

I steered away from Windows based navigators, because I always thought that Linex was supposed to be a more stable OS.
If Microsoft does acquire Tomtom, then it's another nail in the coffin as far as Tomtom customers are concerned. Software will become even more buggy, with security threats that could potentially allow bluetooth spread viruses to infect each device. Microsoft would gladly stuff up anything as long as they could sell upgrades that "fix" their shoddy work.
I sincerely hope that this news of a take over is just a rumer!

And Symantec will make an anti-virus for it. Based on rumors that you can get a Virus thru your buddies list.

[gingernut777]

I wouldn't read to much into this.

It's just a way of upping the share prices for TomTom.

I mean to say, Microsoft can't get WINDOWS to work properly, what chance have they with GPS.