Yesterday TomTom launched a new subscription map service, boringly dubbed “Map Update Service”, to provide customers with quarterly map updates. A one country map subsciption for entry-level PND’s such as the TomTom ONE and TomTom ONE XL will cost €39.80 in Europe, while TomTom’s higher-end GO models will be priced higher thanks to more advanced features such as IQ Routes (historical speed data).

It’s been interesting to watch PND makers invent new ways to monetize over the past year. TomTom’s new update service is very similar to Navigon’s FreshMaps map updates. The only difference being Navigon uses NAVTEQ data, while TomTom uses in-house TeleAtlas data. Garmin, while missing from the paid map subscription landscape so far, recently cut subscription fees for TMC real-time traffic data on its nuvi 7×5 series models in exchange for ad-support.

Ludovic Privat from GPSBusiness News points out that this could be a defining trend in the future PND market. He says that up until now, we’ve tended to buy a new PND when its come time for updated maps or features. But with thinning profit margins for manufacturers, the hardware is becoming the entry point for making money in the software field. Meaning for a company like TomTom, it’s more lucrative for you or me to hang on to that $150 TomTom ONE for a few years, paying TomTom annual subscription fees, rather than buy a new TomTom PND. Sure a PND costs more for us, but TomTom also has to pay more to manufacture it. Now that they own TeleAtlas, the map data is readily available, and the accompanying map update software doesn’t have to be rewritten millions of times for each device. Ultimately this is where company’s like TomTom, Navigon, and Garmin will make their money.

Welcome to the new PND business.

via gpsbusinessnews

TomTom’s looking to get a little more personal and intimate with voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, adding Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall to the growing list of celebrity voices that can be downloaded to their GPS navigators via Navtones.  Samantha Jones, one of the more sexually uninhibited characters on the City, and played by Cattrall is the personality behind the voice adding lines like “Don’t touch my Manolos” to the traditional “Turn left in two blocks”-type directions.  The new voice will cost $12.95 and €9.95 and download instructions can be found at TomTom Plus Services.

Garmin’s Edge 705 line of GPS navigator and bicycle computers will now include a special edition Team Garmin Edge 705 model with the same orange and blue argyle design you saw on the pros’ bikes in the 2008 Tour de France.  Aside from GPS navigation with City Navigator mapping, turn-by-turn directions and millions of POIs , the Team Garmin Edge 705 has tons of features specific to cyclists including a heart-rate monitor, speed and cadence sensor, and the ability to share data with fellow cyclists wirelessly using ANT+ wireless technology.  Check out the full release after the jump for all the details!

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Navigon’s 7210 GPS has launched in the United Kingdom. With a minimalist yet effective design, the Navigon 7210 has a widescreen 4.3-inch SmartDisplay that melds into the frame. The guts of the 7210 consist of a 600 Mhz processor, 64 MB of internal memory, 2 GB of flash memory, lithium-ion battery, and car charger with an integrated TMC antennae. The PND also has all the high-end navigation features you’d expect including Landmark View 3D, Voice Recognition Pro, Reality View Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Emergency Help, and Favorites.

One interesting feature we haven’t seen before is Curve Warner, a database of 55, 000 dangerous curves in the road, from which the Navigon 7210 draws to warn you both on the display and acoustically. You’re warned well in advance so that you’re not looking at the warning on your 7210 as you drive off of the road!

Anyway, the Navigon 7210 is now available in the United Kingdom for £279.99.

via pocketlint

GPS Lodge has an in-depth review of the Garmin nuvi 755T and despite some initial apprehension regarding the effect of ads on its usability, it was found to be a more-than-fair tradeoff for free realtime traffic.  And there was really nothing negative to say otherwise.  Navigation was solid, advanced features like Lane Assist were effective and it was a definite recommendation for anyone looking at higher-end GPS units.  So keep your eye on it when it hits shelves October 1, it might be worth the $500.

Pre-Order The Garmin nuvi 755T from Amazon

Via GPS Lodge

Garmin’s nuvi 265T, nuvi 265WT and nuvi 275T, announced earlier this summer as the latest additions to Garmin’s 2×5 series, are up for pre-order on Amazon.  Shipping October 15, they’ll sell out pretty quickly so if you want first dibs, it’s best to pre-order now.  Just hit the respective links…

Garmin nuvi 265T-$299.99 with free shipping
Garmin nuvi 265WT-$349.99 with free shipping (widescreen)
Garmin nuvi 275T-$399.99 with free shipping (comes with North American and European maps)

Mio’s Knight Rider GPS, with the voice of K.I.T.T. is available at Radio Shack, the sole bricks-and-mortar retailer to stock the cultish navigation device until the end of October. The Knight Rider GPS with its flashing lights on both sides has a database of 300 common names from which you can choose so everytime you turn it on you’re welcomed quite personally. With a 4.3-inch touchscreen display with anti-glare, the Knight Rider features preloaded maps of the US and Canada, 4 million points of interest and comes packed with a car mount, in-car charger and USB cable. Very cool, so head over to your local Radio Shack and pick one up for $269.99.

Mio’s Knight Rider GPS Is Available From Amazon!

via guruof3d

Take a look at the iSuppli chart above and you’ll quickly realize that portable navigation devices may be headed the way of the deadpool.  Last year PND’s accounted for about half of all shipped navigation devices, including in-dash GPS systems, smartphones with integrated GPS and plain ol’ mobile phones with E911 services and add-on navigation services.

By the year 2013 PND’s will only account for a measly 23% of shipments while the mobile phone market will acount for about 73%.

This isn’t at all surprising given the developments of the past year, especially with the 3G iPhone and possibly Android completely changing the world of navigation, but we’re not so sure in-dash systems will play such a small part in things over the next few years.

However it depends how you define in-dash system.  While in-dash GPS systems used solely for navigation will probably head for dead, smart systems built into cars that combine GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and all the other features required to build a connected vehicle will undoubtedly increase especially as wireless technology continues to advance.

We do agree that many PND manufacturers we’re familiar with today will disappear over the next couple of years, and big names such as Garmin might increase their focus on software development in order to increase their profit margins.  The portable navigation device isn’t dead yet though and it’ll be interesting to see how they evolve over the next few years in order to survive.

via cellularnews

We were expecting an official release date for the ClarionMiND sometime in the 4th quarter and it looks like we’ve got it.  It’ll be available in the US and Canada in November for a pricey $649, then make the trip across the Atlantic to Europe in time for January 2009, priced at 649 Euros.  Expensive yes, but in the spring of 2009 Clarion will release a premium model with 3G connectivity that we’re sure will cost more.

We have a more extended spec list than we had before as well, but you’ll find in the full release after the jump.

via dapreview

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TomTom’s ONE XL II could be solidly mounted on your dashboard this Christmas, just passing through the FCC’s Olympic-like trials.  According to GPSTracklog, the new TomTom looks to be the updated version of the ONE XL-S, but with hands-free Bluetooth.  If so, the TomTom ONE XL II would be the first ONE device with this feature.