Toronto (ECN) - Starting today, American And Canadian iPhone users can purchase a $99.99 application that provides them with Tom Tom's turn by turn 3D navigation capabilities.
Unveiled in much of Europe over the weekend, the software, available from Apple's iPhone app store, has been eagerly anticipated by many of the ubiquitous mobile phone's users since its announcement in June.
While many iPhone devotees will no doubt snap up the software, many others are decrying what they see as an unreasonable pricetag. At nearly $100, the software is only slightly less expensive than some of Tom Tom's own standalone GPS units. An official car kit that allows windshield mounting of the phone and enhances performance of the app has not yet been released, but has been reported to retail for nearly $200, significantly more than many of Tom Tom's standalone units.
Add in the fact that both AT&T and Navigon already offer less expensive navigation applications for the iPhone, and many tech fans have been less than thrilled about the software's prospects.
With that said, early reviews of the product have been fairly positive.
Many reviewers have praised Tom Tom's use of the iPhone's accelerometer, which allows for operation of the software in either portrait or landscape mode.
Also popular has been the software's relative ease of use. When a user receives a call during navigation, the software moves to the background until the call is finished, at which time it resumes navigating.
While this has the potential to lead to missed turns if a caller is chatty, it is handled as well as the current technology can allow. More than likely, Tom Tom and Apple have a success on their hands, and a solid foundation on which to build the inevitable follow up.
