Rumors are popping up around the ‘net that Microsoft may acquire Dutch GPS maker TomTom. Both Microsoft and TomTom are denying any such acquisition, although TomTom’s stock price shot up 6% (up to €32.41 as of last Tuesday) based on the rumors of a potential buy out from MSFT.
TomTom did not respond to requests for comment. The company's chief operating officer Alexander Ribbink has played down the speculation, telling Reuters: "That's news to me. I haven't heard about it".
After thinking about this one a bit, a TomTom acquisition might make sense for Microsoft. Currently the company makes Streets & Trips (AutoRoute in Europe), and has made no secret of the fact it wants a bigger piece of the PND pie.
Personally, I like the idea – Take TomTom’s good design and add Microsoft’s deep pockets and considerable marketing resources, and we might just actually get a TomTom/Microsoft product that functions correctly and has good customer support!
Perhaps, other forums claim that this would be a bad idea due to Microsoft and it crashable software. I have Windows XP, great OS, Vista on the way. If Vista or a source of Vista is used if TomTom does become aquired by Microsoft, it really could make a *possible* bug free device. As it stands, TomTom just is playing games with people by saying "we're fixing it!", umm, no, you're not TomTom, but you would like us to think that. WHY release such a GREAT device only to be plagued by the ABSOLUTELY worst mount hardware to possibly exist? Why buggy code? Why go with TeleAtlas? *sigh*. It's like telling your child that we're going to Disneyland, and then saying "Just kidding!" Do companies EVER learn? Not TomTom. I hope they enjoy several thousand returns back to the factory, but then they will probably publically deny (as the record stands) that "we deny ANY problems and any returns, and our products are FLAWLESS!". TomTom GO BOOM!
The main reason why I chosed a Tomtom is because it doesn't run under WinCE and there is no (or very few) code coming from Microsoft on my device. So personnally I dislike the idea and I really hope this will stay a rumor and nothing else !
Keep up the great work on your blog. Best wishes WaltDe