This week I had the opportunity to speak with TomTom VP of Marketing, Anne Louise Hanstad and ask her some of the most pressing questions I've received from GPS Magazine readers:
- Fletch: Why did it take so long for TomTom to address the issues with the GO 910 mount? GPS Magazine began hearing users complain of broken mounts as soon as the 910 launched.
Anne Louise Hanstad: Actually it has only been a very small percentage of customers that have experienced issues with the mount. However, as soon as we began to hear there was an issue, we started working on an a corrected mount. We wanted to make sure that we addressed all the issues we were hearing about, to ensure that all the issues would be permanently solved with the new mount. Now that the new mount is ready, we’re offering a replacement mount to any customer that may have experienced a problem with the original mount. We want our customers to know that if there’s a problem, TomTom wants to hear about it, and will do the right thing to fix the issue.
- Fletch: Are there any plans to use NAVTEQ in your devices in North America? The use of Tele Atlas was the only reason the TomTom ONE didn’t get the GPS Magazine Editor’s Choice award.
Anne Louise Hanstad: Map source data is something we care a great deal about. We fundamentally believe the quality of the [Tele Atlas] maps are good. Maps are always a sensitive issue; we use NAVTEQ maps in Rider, and we still hear complaints about mapping accuracy from those customers. I think the key question to ask here is what’s coming next from Tele Atlas. We are weeks away from their final integration with GDT. We expect that integration will produce an even better map quality experience than Tele Atlas’ competitors [NAVTEQ]. Before we make any decisions, we want to see what the GDT integration will bring.
Continue reading "Eight Questions with TomTom’s VP of Marketing, Anne Louise Hanstad" »
As a sidenote to the mapping issue with TomTom devices, I heard that Tele Atlas recently launched a new program called Map Insight which allows users to report map inaccuracies which will then be implemented into the system so they definitely are on their way to improving map accuracy.
I have a nuvi 350 and I am really frustrated with the features that Garmin has left out like multiple vias and ability to save routes along with others. I really like the way TomTom approaches their features sets to their entire product line unlike the mess the Garmin has done with their product line.
I also agree with the TeleAtlas issue, I have worked in real estate and in my area the NAVTEQ data is missing most developments that have been there up to 8 years. TeleAtlas on the other hand is really good and has most developments put up within the last two years.
Bottom line if TomTom keeps this up and Garmin continues to piss around my next unit will definitely not be a Garmin.
Chrispy - thanks, that's interesting. Right now TA is definitely the underdog. Ultimately the competition between NAVTEQ and TA will benefit us all, with cheaper, more accurate maps. Onward and upward!
--Fletch
May someone explain to me what is the "GDT" thing Anne-Louise is talking about ?
Any URL where I can read some informations about that thing ?
Thanks.
I HAVE THE TOMTOM UNIT FOR A PALM TUNGSTEN T5,THE T5 PLUGS INTO THE UNIT AND IT'S READY TO GO.THE T5 HAS A HORIZONTAL OPTION WHICH MAKES FOR A GREAT DISPLAY LAYOUT.I PLACE THE ANTENNA ON THE DASH AND IM HOOKED UP.I MADE A MOUNT FOR IT USING PLASTIC DRAIN PIPE THAT FITS IN MY GMC TRUCK CUP HOLDER WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS.WHAT A GREAT UNIT FOR A GREAT PRICE
Bob - does that Palm Tungsten have a caps lock key? :)
--Fletch
GDT was an American mapping company similar to NAVTEQ that Teleatlas bought in 2004.
http://www.directionsmag.com/editorials.php?article_id=570
@JME - Thanks pour the link.
In your discussions with Anne Louise Hanstad from Tom Tom, there wasn’t any discussion of their plans regarding the PDA/Smart phone versions of their software. As a Treo 650 user running Navigator 5, I find that Tom Tom seems to have little interest in fixing their problems. I have had a problem outstanding with the 5.2 release for over a month and they have not found a fix yet. There temporary solution was to have me roll back to a 5.1 version. I would be interested to know if Tom Tom plans to work as hard on this sector as they talk about working on their own equipment line.
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