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