| Once GPS (global positioning systems), | | | | getting to the destination the operator has |
| created originally for the United States | | | | chosen. Some of their systems will integrate |
| military, hit the streets and citizens could | | | | with cell phones using Bluetooth. Those that |
| use it for free all over the world, | | | | have this capability can access |
| manufacturers of receivers mushroomed. One of | | | | traffic-congestion maps, take calls, and read |
| those manufacturers is a Dutch company, | | | | aloud SMS (short message service) messages. |
| TomTom NV. TomTom quickly became the leading | | | | |
| manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe. | | | | "New" points of interest can be created on |
| In the United States and Canada, their slogan | | | | newer versions of TomTom as well as map-error |
| is "Go confidently." In the UK it's "Find | | | | corrections. If a user adds these, TomTom |
| your way the easy way." | | | | will provide them to other users for free. |
| | | | Some are verified by TomTom and are labeled |
| With roads all over the world getting busier | | | | as such. For now, only blocked streets that |
| and the time it takes to get anywhere longer, | | | | have been unblocked and traffic directions |
| tempers tend to flare. This is a good time | | | | that are shown to be going the wrong |
| for global positioning systems to become as | | | | direction can be changed. Street names can be |
| common as Henry Ford's a car in every garage. | | | | edited and points of interest can be shared |
| TomTom leads the way in providing traffic | | | | as well. These changes will come up instantly |
| reports so drivers can go around the bad | | | | on the receiver they are created on. TomTom |
| spots as well as in alerting them to | | | | will make all other changes if they are sent |
| dangerous road conditions on their routes. | | | | in, and they will appear on future map |
| TomTom traffic service is available in | | | | updates. |
| Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, | | | | |
| Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland | | | | TomTom Plus |
| the United Kingdom. Even if you are traveling | | | | |
| from one country to another, one subscription | | | | For a fee, TomTom Plus will warn drivers |
| guarantees that you will have services in | | | | about speed cameras, give weather updates, |
| that country. | | | | and provide traffic alerts. TomTom Plus only |
| | | | charges fees for these services in Europe; |
| TomTom markets four types of products: | | | | they are free in the US and Canada for now |
| | | | except for cameras. Another service provided |
| * TomTom GO and ONE-portable models for | | | | by TomTom Plus is traffic data over a |
| automobile navigation. | | | | Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with Internet |
| | | | service or with an add-on aerial that picks |
| * TomTom RIDER and TomTom RIDER 2-for | | | | up RDS (radio data system), broadcast on FM |
| motorcycle and motor scooter users. | | | | radio frequencies. |
| | | | |
| * TomTom NAVIGATOR-software for PDAs and | | | | TomTom Plus Compatibility |
| Pocket PCs. | | | | |
| | | | Only specific cell phone models from AT&T |
| * TomTom Mobile-software for cell phones. | | | | Cingular and T-Mobile are compatible with |
| | | | TomTom Plus. Also, Internet service must be |
| Using a flying interface, the units offer an | | | | purchased through that cell-phone provider in |
| oblique bird's-eye view of the road. They | | | | addition to the plan from TomTom. The |
| also provide a direct-overhead map view. A | | | | subscription cannot be enabled without a |
| GPS receiver shows precise location. It also | | | | license code. |
| gives visual and spoken directions for | | | | |