TomTom has extended its HD Traffic service, which provides live updates on traffic problems and suggests alternative routes, to Australia. The option is now available on TomTom’s GPS devices, via its iPhone app and online.
TomTom uses data automatically collected from TomTom GPS users to identify traffic flow and potential troublespots, and combines that with data sources with state traffic authorities. (The data collection is anonymised and can be switched off in the iPhone version, but not on GPS devices.) Updates are sent to devices every 2 minutes.
HD Traffic is a clear rival to the longer established SUNA service. SUNA can take advantage of direct connections into traffic lights and other measurement system, while TomTom can cover a wider area since it draws data from its base of users.
Users can browse the maps for traffic updates free of charge (which could be a handy option before leaving the office). A one-year subscription to HD Traffic will be included on new TomTom devices; extending that subscription costs $69.95 a year. Subscribing to traffic updates in the TomTom iPhone app is $41.99 a year, though there’s a $31.99 special running right now.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.