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See the original image at engadget.com —

TomTom developing iPhone GPS module?

engadget.com — Here's a fresh Apple rumor in the run-up to MacWorld: a TomTom GPS module for the iPhone.

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  • xoineg, on 12/12/2007, -4/+10once apple opens up the iPhone to developers we can assume that a simple bluetooth companion can transmit map data to the iphone. I seen this with other phones and it seems very doable on the iphone. Maybe apple will even use google maps.
    • mentol, on 12/12/2007, -2/+2Now that there is the Android I suppose Apple doesn't want to stay on the bar for not allowing third party developers. Things change, and Apple adapts.
    • KevinWhite, on 12/12/2007, -2/+4I hope they don't do bluetooth...I want this for my Touch
    • dkla, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2... or maybe someone will finally implement Voice Dialing!!
  • RadicalEdward, on 12/12/2007, -12/+7Meh, i'd be much more excited if the news was about garmin developing one.
    • shortyjacobs, on 12/12/2007, -7/+3B....B.....b.....but TomTom has those cute and quirky commercials! It's GOT to be the best...
    • shiftdelete, on 12/12/2007, -4/+3Sorry, but I'll take Tom Tom's side on this. They have been doing some innovating things lately. Garmin is the Microsoft of GPS's (take that as you will)
  • tkidBOSTON, on 12/12/2007, -4/+15Time to take GPS off the xmas list
    • sotopheavy, on 12/12/2007, -4/+2Time to take the iPhone and GPS off the xMas list and wait until next year. I hear they'll have lazers then!
  • tnoy, on 12/12/2007, -14/+7Thats awesome. Now the iPhone almost has all the functionality of the phone I've had for a year.
    • eternal464, on 12/12/2007, -4/+4subtle yet surprisingly slamtastic....i give you three stars
    • dmunkey, on 12/12/2007, -2/+2wow the iphone is missing key functionality of many of its competitors? Wow no one has EVER pointed that out. EVER.
    • StephenCIreland, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1let me guess , a nokia n95, a phone tht was never unlockable for free, that does not feature really cool apps or a touch screen web browsing experience
    • dshPls, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1Have a fun time trying to browse the internet with your craptastic CSS rendering, and when you figure that one out by creating a browser that doesn't exist, also invent some thermal gloves so your phone doesn't burn a hole into your palms.

      I purchased a $600 business class HTC 8525, got gig's worth of applications off of torrents and completely redid it's UI, and it's still no iPhone. Everything is simple and integrated on the iPhone, it's all easily accessible and done for you. You get a phone that works, a web browser that works, and a iPod that works.
  • RealHyperX, on 12/12/2007, -12/+8Except Tom Tom map system SUCKS ASS! anyone used it? Navteq blows it away 10x. Look at Garmin Nuvi series if you want a GPS.
    • GliTCH82, on 12/12/2007, -1/+5Tom Tom is great. I've used it on Windows Mobile for years.
      • shivaman, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2I have to agree. I love my tom tom!
        • oMeSSiaHo, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Well its good you like it but there are better options. Garmin or Navigon give you a better UI and have better features.
    • jmlambe, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2TomTom is legit, read some reviews RealHyperX.
    • bigwave111, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Completely agree. TomTom is never up to date. The VZ navigator in my phone is by far better. Even after the most recent update from TomTom, it still doesn't include the target or home depot that have been down the street for over a year.
  • dyranios2, on 12/12/2007, -7/+4Holy ***** make this for the ipod touch aswell plz thx
  • guerj, on 12/12/2007, -4/+2Tom Tom Club?
  • lougoose, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Well, better than buying a whole new iPhone G2.
  • LiquidFusion, on 12/12/2007, -6/+8If Apple wants my money, they need to add at least 3 things to iPhone 2.0
    3G
    GPS (a module is nice, but an onboard chip is best. And don't charge us to use it either)
    REAL Bluetooth (where the hell is A2DP?)

    However, I have a bad feeling that they'll fail to add things that other phones have standard. A shame that Apple cripples a device that has incredible potential.
    • badjoke, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I agree. I really wish my iPod has these key features. A camera with zoom, MMS and texts to multiple recipients would be nice too.
    • happyseamonster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) {from wiki}

      This profile defines how high quality audio (stereo or mono) can be streamed from one device to another over a Bluetooth connection.[1] For example, music streamed from a mobile phone to a wireless headset.

      A2DP was initially used in conjunction with an intermediate Bluetooth transceiver that connects to a standard output audio jack, encodes the incoming audio to a Bluetooth-friendly format, and sends the signal wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones that decode and play the audio. However, many Bluetooth 1.1, 1.2 mobile phones and portable media players do not natively support A2DP, while some newer Bluetooth 2.0 headphones do support it.

      Bluetooth headphones, especially the more advanced models, often come with a microphone and support for the Headset (HSP), Hands-Free (HFP) and Audio/Video Remote Control (AVRCP) profiles.

      A2DP is designed to transfer a 2-channel stereo audio stream, like music from an MP3 player, to a headset or car radio.[2] This profile relies on AVDTP and GAVDP. It includes mandatory support for low complexity Sub Band Codecs (SBC) and supports optionally: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AAC, and ATRAC, and is extensible to support manufacturer-defined codecs. Most bluetooth stacks implement the SCMS-T digital rights management (DRM) scheme. In these cases it is not possible to connect the A2DP headphones for high quality audio. For example, the Motorola HT820 can be used for high quality audio only with certain versions of the Toshiba bluetooth stack.

    • Billions, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3Those are nice features. But I differ with you when you say Apple has 'crippled' their phone. The iPhone is still an amazing device and when those features are added, I will pass mine on to someone else and purchase a new one. The improvement in usability and features over my past smartphones (with my ipod in the other pocket) is major - starting with the smaller size of the iPhone. I'd hardly consider delaying getting one over anything on your list - well, maybe at this point, as we see rumors of improvements coming in June - but this 'crippled' phone has still been better than either of my last two SonyEricsson smartphones. And I was a fan of those SEs at the time.
  • cozb, on 12/12/2007, -7/+2Aren't all cell phones required to have gps for 911 calls? If so, how come gps data isn't available for the customer by a press of the button?

    • igodelaputa, on 12/12/2007, -1/+4No, but emergency-services can ask your provider for a triangulation on you cellphone signal. But you need to be in range of at least 3 cellphone-towers

      In addition to the triangulation: In The Netherlands tomtom teamed up with vodafone to measure traffic density and speed on every single road with the use of cellphone triangulation data, within vodafone coverage. This makes it possible to give a much better view on what is happening on the road ahead and give you better advice.
  • sotopheavy, on 12/12/2007, -3/+4I'd much rather see Garmin make it. My parents ahve a magellan, my GF has a Garmin and I have seen TomTom. I am most impressed with Garmin. Better maps and such.
  • SirZRX, on 12/12/2007, -2/+6one of the chips inside the iphone alredy supports GPS but is not enabled, i wonder whats the apple position about this
  • gaijintendo, on 12/12/2007, -1/+4Nobody would compress an image to such a retarded extent unless they were covering up there piss-poor photoshopping skills. That is comedic.
    Never the less, the idea is believable, just not the evidence.
  • antoniojvr, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7YES! I needed something to kill my iPhone battery at a quicker rate!
    • happyseamonster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Keep it off until you need it.
  • RyeBrye, on 12/12/2007, -1/+10TomTom is smart about their GPS platform, and I can see them doing this. Their TomTom software already works on lots of different cell phones.

    To all the TomTom haters out there - it really is a sweet platform. Especially if you throw Yoda on it and have him telling you "At next intersection, turn left you will" (there seriously is a Yoda voice available for the TomTom)
    • happyseamonster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0If Yoda is so smart, how come he talks like a retard?
  • TWillz, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Hopefully it will be a base unit that contains the GPS antenna, and will have a 12 volt power cable for the car charger. The card plugged into the phone in the picture just looks retarded.
  • shuster420, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3wow - nice fake stolen from http://www.mac4ever.com

    • happyseamonster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Just because another site also has it, doesn't mean that's where Engadget got it from.
  • err404, on 12/12/2007, -1/+3I use both Garmin and TomTom regularly and they are essentially equal. the latest maps are basically on par and the interfaces are both fairly intuitive. In the end i slightly prefer my TomTom since for whatever reason, with my Garmin I miss exits more frequently. I find the map view and smooth map movement easier to follow in complex areas when exits are very close and obscured by giant overpasses.
    However I would not hesitate to buy either as an iPhone addon.
    As far as implementation, I'd prefer a Bluetooth GPS dock for the car as opposed to a plug at the bottom. This would allow you to hold the phone to enter your location and just dock it on your dashboard when you start your trip. I dont really care if I have GPS when i'm not in the car.
    • happyseamonster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0It would most likely just use Google maps...
      When the heck it Garmin going to update their clunky, Win95 looking, Map Source software??
  • Socket370, on 12/12/2007, -2/+0Big deal. I've been running TomTom on my Windows Mobile 5 device for over a year now.
  • s0ldad0, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0The iPhone is apples new cash cow, and I will point out why.

    Its a high cost phone so I will call it premium cost.
    You pay premium cost and are still locked into a contract.
    Why? Cos Apple gets full price on the sale plus 10% of all contract fees.

    Apple then prevents, by locking the device, you from running apps from the phone.
    Why? So that you need to use network access to run the application. Adding to Apples 10%.

    Apple will then open up the device to developers so long as they make the apps only run from a network location.
    Also Apple will garnish part of the sale price by providing the application via iTunes.
    Also then recoup 10% from the network provider on app usage.

    3G looks unnattractive in this model. Also GPS as built in as once the application is loaded GPS does the rest. Thats why the Google GPRS solution suits apple better. Constant packet sending and receiving.

    my 2 bits...
  • sakurama, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0I think they might have to offer mac software first - I think if any GPS company offered any native mac mapping software it might be a good start but they don't so this is stupid.
  • danwarne, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Wow, they're really gonna have to amp-up the volume on the iPhone before turn-by-turn navigation would be useful.
  • smittie, on 02/01/2008, -0/+1I have a TomTom Go 510 which I hate. The biggest problem with the product is the software. Never would I install software developed by the TomTom folks on my iPhone.
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