TomTom has released details on its new add-on service for TomTom GPS units called TomTom Strangers.
Once of the biggest problems with GPS navigation is that the devices will frequently give routing instructions that are not the most efficient way to get somewhere. This is particularly true in smaller, less urban areas. Well, TomTom thinks it has come up with a solution: from now on, anyone who purchases a TomTom device will be asked if they are willing to participate in TomTom Strangers. If you say yes, your mobile number will be made available to other TomTom users, who can then call you if they are driving in your area and check with you for the inside scoop on the best way to get where they’re going.
Sounds like a horrible idea to me – Next up, Cable Providers publishing my phone number so people who missed the Sopranos can call me the following day for a re-cap?
Horrible idea, indeed. And how weird and scary is the product name "Strangers"? I wonder what genius product manager thought that one up. A much better idea would be an option to upload alternative, user-designed routes to a TomTom server. These routes could be accessed by TomTom users and the popular ones would naturally rise to the top of the list. Users could also give negative feedback to poor routes. This solution would of course maintain privacy for all, much in the same way the feedback loop works for eBay. In addition, TomTom monetizes cheap content.
No kidding! Why not just "find hot sex in this area?" Yikes!
Elliot's comment is right on - if they could get users to start adding content, they'd start to build more value into their data, a la Amazon's catalog.