Navigon (left), TomTom (right)
Photo: Apple iTunes Store
The tech world is abuzz about the
new iPhone 4, leading more consumers to consider a purchase or upgrade, and to imagine what this smartphone could do for them. Turns out, smartphones can do many things, including serve as a convenient, full-function navigation device. Navigon and TomTom have provided their own reasons to entice consumers to visit the Apple iTunes Store, with their current navigation apps being deeply discounted.
Both Navigon and TomTom have produced
personal navigation devices (PNDs) that performed well in our GPS tests, and their current
iPhone apps carry on that tradition.
Navigon has taken a creative spin on the market by offering regional versions of MobileNavigator for less money than the full U.S. version. And until June 11th, the East, Central, and West region apps can be had for just $15 each. These are full-featured navigation solutions with lane assist, reality view, and text-to-speech that are limited only by the included maps. One downside is that the regional maps consume the same 1.4 GB of space as the full U.S. version.
TomTom has lowered the price of its current U.S. app (1.3 version) from $60 to $40 and the version with maps of the U.S. and Canada for from $70 to $50. The TomTom app effectively mimics the company's dashtop units, with the essential features most drivers want, plus IQ Routes for route planning that factors historic traffic patterns. TomTom will soon submit its next app version to Apple for approval, with support for the iOS 4 multitasking abilities coming on the new iPhone later this month. Current and new customers will be able to upgrade to the new version upon release at no charge.
As we have seen in covering iPhone nav apps, the software evolves rapidly and deals appear periodically. Once iOS 4 arrives, we expect the leading companies will rush out updated apps and the cycle will begin anew.
Read our
iPhone navigation app buying advice and reviews.
Also read:
Preview: Apple iPhone 4 - What it means for GPS navigation New iPhone promises sharper display, thinner profile, and more New AT&T iPhone rate plans, and how they may impact GPS navigators —
Jeff Bartlett
