New TomTom One 140, XL 340, and Go 740 Live GPS

After a post-holiday lull, portable GPS navigation device makers are introducing their new-for-2009 products. TomTom has followed up its original Go 740 announcement with more information and pricing, while also releasing two, new affordable units.

Their first connected portable GPS navigation system, the Go 740 Live, will be in stores in mid-April, at a price $100 less than originally announced.

The company also has introduced two new moderately priced devices, the One 140 and XL 340, with features previously reserved for higher-end units. (Both are available at Amazon.com, with the One 140 listed for less than retail.)

Go 740 Live
We last reported on the Go 740 Live when we saw it at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. It offers TomTom's IQ Routes technology, which factors in historical local traffic patterns and conditions when calculating routes. The company says the data is based on years of historical information provided anonymously by other TomTom units, and it takes into account the time and day of the week.

With IQ routes combined with real-time traffic reports that are updated every few minutes, TomTom claims the Go 740 Live will provide drivers with improved accuracy and time-saving routing. (In addition, TomTom is developing relationships with cell-phone carriers to share motion data from its users to enhance the real-time traffic data.) Other connected features include local fuel prices, weather forecasting, and Google search for nearby businesses and other point-of-interest locations. The Go 740 Live also comes with Advanced Lane Guidance to help drivers choose the best lane at highway interchanges, and voice recognition capability for route planning, telephone calls, and other commands. Available now, list price for the Go 740 Live is $400 including three months of Live services. Live adds $9.95 a month once the trial period ends.

One 140 and XL 340
These units offer some of the features of the 740 Live, without the connected functions or subscription fee. Both the One 140 and XL 340 include IQ routes, Advanced Lane Guidance, and the Help Me! menu to quickly guide users to emergency assistance. The 140 S and XL 340 S each add text-to-speech, also known as spoken street names.  Previously, such features more typically found on higher-priced models. Maps now include Mexico in addition to the U.S. and Canada. The One 140 has a 3.5-inch screen and retails for $180. The XL 340 has a 4.3-inch widescreen, and retails for $230. Both are due in stores in April.

The competition is also introducing new models in these segments, including the Garmin Nuvi 1300.

We will run these new navigators through our test program soon as we purchase the models. (Learn about how we test GPS navigators.)

—Jim Travers

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