Confirmed: No TomTom for Windows Phone 7 in the offing

May 30, 2011 | By Surur

A few months ago we had a report that TomTom had no plans for a Windows Phone 7 version, and many readers dismissed it as it come from their customer service department.

Now we have a report from PocketGPSWorld which is much less easy to ignore.

They interviewed TomTom’s Managing Director Corinne Vigreux. She said she did not view smartphones as real navigation devices, saying they had many compromised and users normally turned to actual dedicated PND’s in the end.

Despite this, the company has a very popular product in the iPhone app store, and PocketGPSWorld asked about expanding to other platforms.

PGPS: The TomTom App has been in the top 10 in the Apple AppStore since it’s release do you have plans to launch on other platforms, in particular Android and Windows Phone?

TT: We are currently working on a version for Android this will be released soon. I cannot give you a specific date yet. For Windows Phone we are not planning to release anything.

From this response I can only conclude TomTom is a pretty lazy company with no vision of being available everywhere on all platforms. Their product will however be sorely missed, despite the future availability of free voice turn by turn navigation with Windows Phone Mango, due to mature features such as being able to block certain routes, multi-point routing, multiple point of views for navigation and many other features that wont be showing up on Mango for some time.

Hopefully the company will eventually jump back on board when WP7 hits volume with Nokia, but given that they do not even have an Android app yet this seems rather unlikely.

Read the full interview at PocketGPSWorld here.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged gps navigation, software, windows phone 7

Shadow

Tom Tom is not a lazy company.

I think there is a good reason all GPS developers avoid proposing a turn-by-turn navigation software for WP7.

MS is probably blocking some APIs and probably also force developers to use BING map system.

My feeling is that Microsoft actually want to promote their crappy Bing Map first and therefore put every obstacles they can on the way of other GPS developers.

So don’t blame Tom Tom, or Copilot and all other developers. Blame Microsoft only.

http://fxfp.com/ Alex F.

Stop trolling – GPS APIs are openly available and there is no compulsion to use Bing Maps (there are a few apps that use Google Maps, like popular GMaps for example).

Shadow

Didn’t you notice that almost 90% of the apps available on the Marketplace strangely rely exclusively on Bing Map. Why not on OpenStreetMap or Google Maps? Don’t you think it’s strange?
Sorry, but I cannot believe that there are no “amicable pressure” from MS on the developers.

Apparently none of you find strange that almost 7 months after launch there is still no Google Maps for WP7 and almost still no Turn-by-turn navigation software for WP7.
There is obviously a compulsion to use Bing Map, and if ever the GPS APIs are available, strangely none of the GPS developer want to develop an app for WP7.

Adf

Funnily enough, the top free app on the marketplace is a google maps app. Seriously stop trolling.

Shadow

Oh yes, and there isn’t even any official Google Maps for WP7.
I will stop trolling when you will stop be so naive.
Ben Chia

Free Google Maps for Windows Phone 7
http://www.windowsphoneapplist.com/gmaps-a14850.html
Anonymous

Why would Google release Google Maps for their main competitor?

http://fxfp.com/ Alex F.

No, it is not strange that most developers use Bing Maps on WP7 – as Bing Maps can be easily reused in WP7 apps and so most developers prefer to use it instead of creating mapping solution of their own.

No, it is not strange that Google Maps is not on WP7 – Google does not want to support competitors. In fact they stopped porting Google Maps to new platforms after they got large marketshare with Android.

No, it is not strange that TomTom or Garmin haven’t released anything for WP7 yet – as their products are largely in C or C++ they would have to make significant development effort to port them to C# and thus they cannot justify such port until WP7 becomes really popular.

I’m WP7 developer in both my daytime job and in hobby projects beyond that, I work with GPS APIs and maps among others – and I can say with 100% confidence that everything you allege here is bullshit.
Firetap

Not sure if I’m missing something here, but the turn by turn Navigation app I use on my WP7 isn’t powered by Bing Maps. The About page lists Ordinance Survey, Navteq, Telmap and Orange. And the maps certainly don’t look like Bing ones.

The only probably is that it won’t be available to all, because it is an Orange exclusive. http://www.orange.co.uk/orangemaps

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GZOA7PA3CQI2QIEUX4AMQMA5II Bob

You’re full of it. MS added 1500 APIs to Mango. They aren’t blocking third party GPS.
Anonymous

Meh… I don’t agree with you. I do love WP7 but let’s be wise here… why develop an app for a platform if the #’s are sufficient enough to warrant the time and energy to develop? For instance TomTom is a Linux based solution which fits in nicely with the offerings by Android – it’s a no brainer for them and given the market penetration it was easily their next move after iPhone stardom (they are the best GPS Nav software on iPoon IMHO.)
Anonymous

Nope.

Although I expect the Windows Phone SDK for Mango will make life easier, TBT navigation was possible from the start.

http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/10/31/navigon-gps-navigation-for-windows-phone-7-hands-on-video/

And what about this:
http://www.wpcentral.com/turn-turn-nagivigation-hits-marketplace

Shadow

Navigon is the only exception indeed. But exclusively available in Germany.

Regarding Navigation by GPS Tuner, you will notice that – strangely – it is based on Bing Map. This confirms my feeling that there is a compulsion to use Bing Map rather than another provider on WP7.

When I purchased my WP7 phone I didn’t expect I would actually purchase a “Bing phone”. I thought I would have the freedom to chose between different providers. But no, all the devices and its services are built around Bing.
Unfortunately Bing is crap in most countries outside UK/US.

PS: I am a loyal MS customer (Qtek, HTC, ec… now WP7). But I am just fed up being tied to Bing services. Give me the choice.

Anonymous

I understand your frustration. The UI in Bing services is good IMO, but the UX suffers from lack of relevant data in countries where Bing needs to improve.

Even though Bing is integrated and tied to the hardware Search button, the Windows Phone architecture is open to other kinds of 3rd party services. Like GMail, Flickr and Facebook. Mango opens the door for more and better 3rd party services.

Navigon isn’t the only exception. And most don’t use Bing Maps, it seems. However, it does look like the TBT navigation availability is largely related to the Windows Phone carriers.

http://wmpoweruser.com/windows-phone-7-gets-first-turn-by-turn-gps-navigation-app/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/cell-phones/telenav-provides-turn-by-turn-voice-guided-navigation-on-windows-phone-7/5093
http://www1.orange.co.uk/orangemaps/countries.html
Anonymous

Shadow, please use the following APIs:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.device.location(VS.92).aspx

You may note that it says “This is pre-release documentation for the Windows Phone OS 7.1 development platform”. However, see below for a 7.0 Location API sample. These APIs were avilable in 7.0, but the MSDN site is only hosting the 7.1 docs online. You can, however, download the 7.0 docs here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=217276

Download a 7.0 (not 7.1) sample of how to use the APIs – http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=185153

Now go to http://code.google.com/apis/maps/. With the above Location data, you can use the Google APIs to create a map.

So, no. There is no requirement that you use Bing Maps in your applications. However, as far as I am aware, there are no well-known implementations of the Google Map APIs available to application developers. So it takes a lot less effort to create map-enabled applications with Bing Maps, due to exising APIs: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.phone.controls.maps(VS.92).aspx

That is all. There is no conspiracy here.

Anonymous

how is bing maps crappy? are you kidding me? stupid google fanboy, go away.

Shadow

Stop calling the other stupid just because they do not have the same opinion as you. I don’t own any Google device. I never purchased anything else than WinMo and now WP7. And yes Bing Mpa is absolutely crap, everybody knows. Read forums, read blogs. Bing Map only works in the US and UK. Outside UK/US this software is mediocre. Open your eyes. You are the fanboy.
Shadow

Stop calling the other stupid just because they do not have the same opinion as you. I don’t own any Google device. I never purchased anything else than WinMo and now WP7. And yes Bing Mpa is absolutely crap, everybody knows. Read forums, read blogs. Bing Map only works in the US and UK. Outside UK/US this software is mediocre. Open your eyes. You are the fanboy.

David

I love Bing and Bing Map. I didn’t use Google search or their map for over a year. So please stop saying nonsense. bing map in USA is really good and even betetr and nice and faster than google map. And soon when Bing and Ovi map join together you will see ggole just have to watch and cry!

Shadow

Yes, but you know USA is not the world.
Shadow

Yes, but you know USA is not the world.

Wurstsalat

compared to google maps, bing maps is in good old europe not as good as google maps. maybe in the us this is not the case but over here, it is (as the search engine, too….we are searching until now with the live search engine and not the new better bing one which is compareable to google. Dont know why microsoft is doin that)

Obiwan

Microsoft is NOT blocking any APIs.
Everything except the compass is there. Ok, the companies need to recode their stuff in Silverlight and C#. And THAT might make this a no-go. The investment would be way to high for doing that. I suppose the code base for Tomtom is written in C++. Thats only for native apps on WP7 so far. If they dont team up with MSFT or some carrier/manufacturer – they have no access to C++ on WP7.

Navigon is rather good on WP7 – not very feature rich but working. It seems they have their code already ready to ship in C# or it was better written for porting it over.

Sure enough – MSFT will and need to promote Bing. But all what we have seen so far is – a offboard solution. Not usabla outside your country. Roaming costs ALOT of money…
Anonymous

That’s why Navigon works. With the same maps that work for the iPhone.

Tommy

I wonder why Garmin is not showing up either. I had it on my Touch Pro 2 with WinMo 6.5 and loved it.

Shadow

No Garmin, no Tom Tom, no Copilot. Microsoft want you to use Bing map exclusively and therefore block the developement of any other alternative gps software. That’s why.
If so many GPS developers stated they won’t develop for WP7, there is a reason.

http://fxfp.com/ Alex F.

Bullshit! There is no block whatsoever.

Shadow

Of course there is. Facts prove it.

http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

Where are these proven facts?
Shadow

- No Google Maps.
- No alternate Turn-by-Turn navigation app, except Navigon (only in Germany)
- 90% of the apps using maps (yellow pages, where I am, etc.) strangely based on Bing Map rather than on another provider despite Bing Map does not work in Europe,
- Developers told me that they have to use the Bing Map system. I don’t know what it is but they have to. Even if they use the maps from Google Maps, the mnanagement of map images (based on Silverlight) depends on this Bing system.
- Tom Tom, Copilot, etc, etc that declare one after another that they won’t develop for WP7. You should ask yourself why.
Ben Chia

I think you can try gMaps. its quite similiar to google maps.
Ben Chia

I think you can try gMaps. its quite similiar to google maps.
http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

That still isn’t a fact. It is just speculation you’ve garnered. Perhaps they have no plans because the API’s aren’t sufficent enough and while developers might be encouraged to use Bing Maps, I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere that they are required to use it. gMaps uses Google Map data. I doubt Microsoft would reject apps from TomTom, Garmin, etc because they contained map data that wasn’t from Bing Maps. Show me in the developer guidelines where it states Bing Maps is required, then I’ll believe it. There is no official Google Maps because Google wont make it, along with Search, Voice, and YouTube (which they’ve blocked Microsoft specifically from the appropriate APIs for them to make their own.)

Fyi: Other companies have said they will not be developing for WP7 but it doesn’t mean it will remain true forever.
Anonymous

Why would Google give one of their main advantages to the competition?! Google Maps Navigation is brilliant, and I’m sure many buy an Android phone just because other platforms don’t have GMN. It would be madness to offer it to other platforms.

http://twitter.com/Sharkaat Denis Jelec

Pure and bad speculation from your side, mate.
Wurstsalat

they block nothing…only navi solution which is blocked for everyone expect telekom customers ist navigon, this is why navigon has an exclusive agreement with the deutsche telekom
Wurstsalat

they block nothing…only navi solution which is blocked for everyone expect telekom customers ist navigon, this is why navigon has an exclusive agreement with the deutsche telekom
Anonymous

That’s (probably) BS. They just don’t think that there are enough WP7 owners. It took a while for Android too. Though to be honest, I almost couldn’t care less if there is navigation software for Android. There is Google Maps Navigation, which is (apart from stability issues and the lack of offline maps) lightyears ahead of TomTom, Navigon and Garmin. Lets hope Ovi Maps will be onboard, then TomTom etc. can screw themselves. They’ll be too late to the game, if they release an app then people won’t even consider it I suppose. If they arrive earlier, there will at least be a few customers who have bought it already.

Anonymous

lets spam their facebook (as well as pandora’s).

these people dont get it.
Anonymous

Doesn’t suprise me – TomTom has a big hate-hardon for Microsoft after they got sued. Garmin on the other hand loves MSFT so expect it to come sooner rather than later.

IMHO all will be moot once Nokia’s OVI Maps is fully integrated into WP7. Every solution is really moot until units start shipping. If Nokia WP7 device explode on the scene expect for TomTom to reverse their decision in a year or two. While they may ignore early adoption they will not ignore the opportunity to make money.

Tom

It goes beyond that. TomTom also owns mapmaker TeleAtlas — the primary competitor to Navteq, which is owned by Nokia.

Anonymous

Doesn’t suprise me – TomTom has a big hate-hardon for Microsoft after they got sued. Garmin on the other hand loves MSFT so expect it to come sooner rather than later.

IMHO all will be moot once Nokia’s OVI Maps is fully integrated into WP7. Every solution is really moot until units start shipping. If Nokia WP7 device explode on the scene expect for TomTom to reverse their decision in a year or two. While they may ignore early adoption they will not ignore the opportunity to make money.
Anonymous

Doesn’t suprise me – TomTom has a big hate-hardon for Microsoft after they got sued. Garmin on the other hand loves MSFT so expect it to come sooner rather than later.

IMHO all will be moot once Nokia’s OVI Maps is fully integrated into WP7. Every solution is really moot until units start shipping. If Nokia WP7 device explode on the scene expect for TomTom to reverse their decision in a year or two. While they may ignore early adoption they will not ignore the opportunity to make money.
HenningK

I kind of agree with her, actually. Paying close to a hundred bucks for Navigon or TomTom GPS on my phone really doesn’t seem very logical, when a full-fledged in-car device with many more features and a larger screen can be had for approx 50 dollars more. Never mind all the mounting stuff I suddenly need for my phone (it’s currently on in-car bluetooth, safely in my pocket).

Anonymous

Isn’t Tomtom just $40 in USA? You should have a cradle and charger in your car in any case.

Wurstsalat

so what…navigon is the better navigation solution, hope they (navigon) will release their app for everyone and not just telekom customers
Guest

I don’t like TomTom that much, at the moment I use Navigon and Telmap Navigator but on Navigon I would have liked to pay for US Maps which aren’t officially there yet Only German, Switzerland and Austria so far… I have a Garmin Navi for the Car with US Maps but I don’t really like Garmin either (it’s weird sometimes like that I need to drive down the Rocky Mountains directly even when there is no street)…
Anonymous

are you lot forgetting that Ovi Maps will be coming to WP7 so hey we not missing much but truthfully if you want a GPS just get a proper full fledged car version.

Anonymous

Ovi Maps is legendary in Europe, and actually built for mobile devices. The best integrated turn-by-turn navigation to have on a cell phone.

Guest

Bing Maps and other solutions can be an option but when I’m in a different country I would like to have everything on the phone directly so I don’t need to pay for extra Data Transfers which can be very expensive in other countries…
David

Do I care about crappy TomTom navigation on my Windows Phone? The answer is: No!

With Mango update Windows Phone is going to have Bing which has very nice and perfect navigation system (I used it a lot on my windows Mobile 6.5) and It works much much betetr than any of these GPS in the market.

Plus if I want to buy GPS I buy Garmin not some TomTom crap.

TomTom: Do you have plans to buy TomTom app for you Windows Phone?

Me: I don’t have any plan to buy anything from TomTom.

They don’t have any plan for Windows Phone because they know Bing navigation will kick their ass for free and that is why.

Have agood day!

Shadow

There is no connection. Bing Map has no preloaded maps, available offline.

How can you compare Bing Map with Tom Tom or any other GPS app?
If you network is bad, bye bye Bing Map.
If ever you want to use Bing Map when you are abroad it will cost you a lot.

Peter

If you are abroad then for each country you go it cost you $100 to get their map for your GPS unit! That cost me a lot more.

And like what David said if I want to buy GPS I buy Garmin not crappy Tomtom.
http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

Microsoft could easily enable local caching of the maps, which it does do already to an extent. If you load Maps and browse around and let it load parts of the map, that data stays cached, I just don’t know for how long.

http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

I just spent the entire winter traveling using WPH7 and Bing maps as my GPS, the Garmin sat in the glove compartment, untouched.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Barbera/633833446 Andrea Barbera

Bing maps might be fine in the US, over here in Europe in most countries it lacks most features in every section, not only in maps.

Shadow

I totally agree. Bing Map is a shame in my country. How Microsoft dare to propose such a mediocre app to its worwide customers outside US/UK.

Not only does Bing Map miss many features in every sections (no PoI, no Street View, no layers, etc.), but mainly maps are blurry, outdated, inaccurate. Streets names are missing. Map image takes almost one mnute to load.

In one word: unusable

http://chmun77.myopenid.com/ Jimmy

Well, if there is already a voice navi app built right into the phone natively, why do I still need to install another 3rd party app? Unless the one offered by Nokia / MS is not up to my expectations?
http://chmun77.myopenid.com/ Jimmy

Well, if there is already a voice navi app built right into the phone natively, why do I still need to install another 3rd party app? Unless the one offered by Nokia / MS is not up to my expectations?
http://chmun77.myopenid.com/ Jimmy

Well, if there is already a voice navi app built right into the phone natively, why do I still need to install another 3rd party app? Unless the one offered by Nokia / MS is not up to my expectations?
http://twitter.com/financ3 finance

It makes BIG sense from TomTom perspective.

There are two major mapping companies globally: TeleAtlas (owned by TomTom) and Navteq (owned by Nokia). Since Microsoft and Nokia are in such a close relationship, it is very likely that maps from Navteq will be on microsoft phones. TeleAtlas will be found on most Android phones and iphones.
http://twitter.com/financ3 finance

It makes BIG sense from TomTom perspective.

There are two major mapping companies globally: TeleAtlas (owned by TomTom) and Navteq (owned by Nokia). Since Microsoft and Nokia are in such a close relationship, it is very likely that maps from Navteq will be on microsoft phones. TeleAtlas will be found on most Android phones and iphones.
azimutha

That TomTom even has an app for iPhone (and one maybe for Android) is probably just a bid to stay relevant in those spaces. I’m impressed with the GPS capabilities in my Focus, but I can assure you it only works when I’m in an area with cell phone service. Dedicated sat-nav GPS is what I rely on elsewhere. If I really needed one in my car, I’d pay the $90 (US) for one. So I wouldn’t be surprised if TomTom or any other GPS maker has little interest in supporting smart phones, especially if they know the OS supplier is going to put out a turn-by-turn app.

I’ve tried out GPSTuner’s Navigation app and would guess they used the Bing Maps API because it includes plenty of examples and a ton of routefinding info, i.e. details like ManeuverType (“BearLeftThenBearLeft”) that can easily be linked to their pre-recorded voice commands. Given the choice between quickly and cheaply satisfying one or two major markets or having to implement an expensive custom solution so I can get every last detail of Udziejek, Lithuania, guess which I’d pick.
Anonymous

Tom tom sucks. Yes I sadly own one.