TomTom for Android guaranteed?
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 12:38PM TomTom has just sent out the following press release and added an image showing an Android phone. What does that say to you? On second glance, this does not guarantee anything, but I can't see TomTom making a kit for phones that it does not support with software.
London, 31 July 2012 – TomTom today launches the TomTom Hands Free Car Kit for smartphones with the highest quality audio for loud, clear hands-free calling and navigation. The new Car Kit features an advanced noise and echocancellation system, which dramatically reduces background noise for the caller and removes ambient noise for the driver.
New mounting options make smartphone use on the move safer and more convenient. The newly designed Car Kit has an adjustable grip to fit any smartphone with or without its cover. An extendable microphone can be clipped to the sun visor to ensure conversations are louder and clearer.
“The new Car Kit has been designed for safety and convenience,” said Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director at TomTom. “With fantastic audio quality and new mounting options, we are making it easier and safer for drivers to make calls and use navigation applications on the move. With advanced new features, our aim is to help drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.”
The TomTom Hands Free Car Kit comes in two versions to support iPhone and micro USB compatible smartphones such as Android phones. Two iPhones and/or smartphones can automatically pair simultaneously. When connected via Bluetooth®, voice recognition functionality can be activated - enabling drivers to navigate and dial without taking their hands off the wheel.
A video providing an overview of TomTom Hands Free Car Kit can be found here.
Pricing and Availability
The TomTom Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone or Smartphone is available in selected retail stores and from www.tomtom.com\smartphone priced £79.95.
The TomTom Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone with Western EU navigation app is priced at £129.95
Reader Comments (5)
Simple. As the number of people using Android phones is increasing by the minute, Tom Tom has decided to start using the Android picture/image in order to tell everybody "Hey, our kit also works very well with Android phones" - thus "The TomTom Hands Free Car Kit comes in two versions to support iPhone and micro USB compatible smartphones such as Android phones with the possibility to automatically pair two mobile devices simultaneously."
This doesn't mean for a minute they will come up with something for Android.
99.999% convinced they are coming up with Android software
To blatantly use the Android mascot without the intent to release an Android version of their software seems a bit needlessly risky to their brand reputation. If Rui is correct, the image is open of obvious misinterpretation.
And an Android version is obviously overdue (why there has been such a delay is baffling).
I am not so sure about an android version. If you go to their site and read their FAQ about Android, you will see that they already provide maps for another company that does an android version - wouldn't surprise me if there was a no-compete clause between the two, in which case it might be a while before they can, and could explain why they are so quiet on that front.
My guess is: it's obvious that Tom Tom should have something for Android by now as it's obvious they surely know how to build one properly. So, if they don't have already is because there's something hidden to public, probably something like Jaam says. Otherwise it's baffling alright.