Well it seems that the connected PND is getting closer and closer to reality. TomTom announced that they're working with Google to allow users to send locations to their portable navigation devices through the "send to GPS" feature within Google Maps. Try the video above, it pretty much explains it all. I am sure that no one at TomTom would admit it but they seem to be conceding that so far Google has developed the best method for getting accurate and updated POI data via their multi pronged approach (purchased data + Google Local Business Center + html page scraping patent). If consumers take advantage of this on a regular basis I wonder if TeleAtlas could also be keeping a copy of these POIs for themselves as a tool to help plug holes and fine tune in its own TeleAtlas POI database? If so, TomTom should promote the heck out of this service, with funding from the TeleAtlas product development budget!
On a related note, I am still not sure why this type of process still requires use of the tethered TomTom Home connection. Wouldn't it be better if folks could pass this information around over the air? Say you're trying to find a place to meet up with someone navigating around with a TomTom device, it would be great to pick a place to meet on a Google map and just send to your friends device directly via a wireless connection. I can certainly understand PND manufacturers not wanting to get into the MVNO businesses, but this is the logical next step and with the bluetooth connection already present in so many of these devices, all the parts are already in place. Anyone with any clue as to why this is not yet happening? Whats the hold up to sending map or POI data to PNDs over the air?
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