TomTom releases hefty free update for its GPS iPhone app

There's clearly a huge potential market for GPS navigation on smartphones.  It's something that TomTom is clearly aware of, but the threat of a free alternative, Google Maps Navigation, can't be all that reassuring ...  The current number one has therefore decided to cram plenty of new features into an update its iPhone GPS offering.

Here's the list of features the new version:

• Advanced lane guidance in both landscape and portrait modes
• Text-to-speech to read out the names of streets
• 'Help Me!' menu for emergencies with a list of nearest hospitals, police stations and son
• Free updates for speed camera locations
• Programmable audio alerts to warn you of speed camera locations or if you're going too fast
• Direct control of your iPod from the app itself

Free updates for maps and speed camera locations

These new features are welcome additions that were missing from the first version.  We're especially glad to see that maps and speed camera locations are automatically updated, which isn't always something you can take for granted on a satnav system.  But are these new updates down to the fact that the TomTom iPhone app is so new, or will the free updates continue?  It seems that TomTom is likely to extend its generosity to prepare for the battle with Google.  The latter constantly updates its maps based on data from Google MAPS.

TomTom has revealed that it plans to continue working on more new features for its iPhone app, which is the least we'd expect if it's hoping to maintain its status as one of the premium tools available on the iPhone.

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