TomTom Mobile5-Without their GPS - Offical Status

[Guest RiCoCheT]

Here is the official stance from TomTom on buying TTM5 without a GPS device.

I recently had a bluetooth car kit fitted with integrated GPS (Parrot CK3300).

I would like to purchase Tomtom5 but i already have a gps from my car kit so did not want to buy this from TomTOm, asked them the question to see if we can buy the software, HOW HARD was it for them to answer my question..

There are so many of us out there who already have a GPS device, TomTom are loosing out on ALOT of business by not selling their software, WHY DO THEY DO THIS...Im sure alot of would part with the money to buy the software if it was available.

See below, might be of some use for some of you out there, might not...

Customer  31/05/2005 09.42 PM 

Hi, I recently had a bluetooth car kit with inbuilt GPS installed, I would like to buy Tom Tom mobile 5 but do not have the need for your GPS device, is this possible as Im unable to find anyone who has asked the question, if possible, can you advise how much this would cost and where I can purchase this from.


Is this an option that will be available in the future, if so, any estimate of when.


Look forward to your response.

Their 1st response

Response  02/06/2005 12.54 PM 

Dear Mr XYZ,


Thank you for your question regarding TomTom Mobile T5. TomTom MOBILE 5 has been tested with various car kits and holders. In most situations a simple holder is all that is required (the phone speaker is loud enough) however please note that  TomTom does not officially endorse any car kits or holders.


If your phone does not allow you to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once then you cannot use TomTom MOBILE 5 with Bluetooth car kits or headsets.


But please tell us which model of carkit you have just bought with integrated Bluetooth GPS.


We hope to have answered your question to your satisfaction.

With best regards,


The TomTom Customer Support Team

Answer the question TOM TOM..arghhhh.. Provided them with the kit I had fitted, Parrot CK3300

Dear Mr XYZ,


TomTom Navigator 2/3/5 supports any NMEA 0183v2 or Sirf compatible GPS Receivers (at rates from 4800 to 115200 baud, and including Bluetooth variants).


This includes all TomTom-branded GPS devices, as well as:

- the Delorme TripMate,

- the Destinator GPS,

- the Emtac CRUX, Emtac GPSJAQ, the Emtac Wireless GPS, t

- the Garmin Etrex, the Garmin GPS12, the Garmin GPSIII,

- the GNS GPS Card CF II,

- the Haicom,

- the Holux GM-200, GM-210 and GM-270CF,

- the Navman GPS1000, GPS2000 and GPS100,

- the Peiker DR, the Pocket CoPilot GPS Jacket,

- the Pocket Track,

- the Pretec CompactGPS, The Pretec CompactGPS-LP,

- the Rikaline GPS-6010,

- the Scania Falcom A3D,

- the StreetNav iGPS.

TomTom Navigator supports GPS devices that are compliant with NMEA0183.


Using Tomtom hardware

- For the cable GPS please select: Tom Tom Navigator GPS and serial on com 1 (except the Toshiba E-400 which uses com 2)

- For the wireless GPS please select: Tom Tom wireless GPS and Bluetooth on serial port com 8/5 after inserting the settings please tick the box on the left. If using a third party Bluetooth receiver try a generic Bluetooth driver or other drivers until you find one that works properly.



Third party GPS

TomTom Navigator supports GPS devices that are compliant with NMEA0183.


Please note that we are unable to provide specific set-up information for any third party PDA/GPS combination


Please refer to your GPS manual or the manufacturer as to which speed and comport you need to select


We hope to have answered your question to your satisfaction.  

With best regards,


The TomTom Customer Support Team

ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION - PLEASE :evil: No they didnt, we know it works with TTM5 and Parrot as used my friends mobile to test.. so I ask the question again.

Response  03/06/2005 10.06 AM 

Dear Mr XYZ,


Thanks for your reply. The bottom line in my last answer is that we have not tested it, so we do not know. But it might work, if the built-in GPS is NMEA 0183v2 or Sirf compatible (at rates from 4800 to 115200 baud). We cannot guarantee it will work, but you can always try.


We hope to have answered your question to your satisfaction.  

With best regards,


The TomTom Customer Support Team

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: Ok now im thinking, Tom Tom support are useless..just after our money and dont care about end users. So ask the ORIGINAL question for 3rd time.. and get a response FINALLY.

Response  03/06/2005 01.05 PM 

Dear Mr XYZ


No, you cannot buy the package without the GPS receiver. Sorry.


With best regards,


The TomTom Customer Support Team


 Customer  03/06/2005 11.03 AM 

Hi.


From your responses, the original question has not been answered, "Am I able to buy TomTom mobile5 "without" your GPS device"?


If so, how much does this retail at and where can I purchase this from?


Thanks.

So there you have it, Tough if you already have a GPS device..

Tomtom, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER..

hope this helps someone out there..

[Guest gregbarton]

well if i was you just get a cheap copy of tomtom off ebay and then try it, if it supports the gps unit then fine and if it doesnt there is a patch/fix for the tomtom software that allows you to use any gps unit with it

[Guest Confused Stu]

Careful gregbarton - looks like you could be advocating buying illegally copied software and potentially hacked stuff too. Obviously I've just misread the post, but I'd hate MoDaCo (and you too) to get in trouble if someone else was to misread it the same way I did.

;)

Edited June 3, 2005 by Confused Stu

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

Yep unless it's bought new and unopened and unregistered etc then it's a dodgy copy.

[Guest RiCoCheT]

well if i was you just get a cheap copy of tomtom off ebay and then try it, if it supports the gps unit then fine and if it doesnt there is a patch/fix for the tomtom software that allows you to use any gps unit with it

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I could do that ,but defeats the object, I WANT TO BUY TOMTOM Mobile 5, BUT dont need a GPS device, Im willing to pay for the software but TomTom will not sell it on its own. Whats the point of allowing it to work with other GPS devices but still having to buy there GPS device..

Also they have increased the price to just ove £200.

[Guest extravagant]

hey guys I'm not to sure, but is TOMTOM on a monthly charge? is the plus membership to have live information (traffic weather) a one time fee? or is it monthly?

[Guest Sp00k]

I wonder... (feel free to point out the flaws in this argument, I haven't given it that much thought)

BUT: Assuming that TomTom can buy in the bundled GPS receiver at 40UKP and the memory cards at 10UKP (N.B. this is using *extremely* generous figures indeed, given the power of bulk-buying and the cost of far-east sourcing), then that means that they are charging approx 150UKP for the software (coupled with the mapping licence) and packaging.

Given that this is the case, then how can they possibly sell the software alone and still maintain their huge profit-margin? Would software-only buyers pay upwards of 150UKP for just the program? What about those who bought the bundle, how would they feel when they calculate (albeit erroneously) that the GPS receiver and memory card is only worth about 50UKP? There'd be considerable dissatisfaction felt by both groups of customers...

If TomTom was a program that required continuous coded connection to the TomTom server to operate and could therefore easily be rendered useless by the company if they so wished, then yes, they would be on firmer ground charging such an exhorbitant price for it.... but it isn't, once installed and running, it doesn't matter greatly if TomTom the company, collapses and disappears, the program will still function perfectly adequately for some years... The only disadvantage would be the lack of map updates and the ability to run the program on updated and improved operating systems.... For which ability the customer is expected to pay dearly, as we've discovered!

I admit that in some instances the user *may* become dependent on the company to some extent in order to fully utilise the capabilities of the program but only if they choose to subscribe to the traffic and weather reports and more recently the 'safety camera' periodic updates. Though I very much doubt that a high percentage of TomTom customers will avail themselves of these extra facilities, particularly as the same information is available elswhere, some of it at no cost whatsoever.

So basically, TomTom find themselves in a situation whereby they *have* to sell only the bundle, to justify the high price that they charge. It would be too obvious to prospective customers that the the price of the software alone, if TomTom were to maintain their current high profit-margin, was nothing short of extortionate.

TomTom have yet again shot themselves in the foot by being too greedy... If they were to sell the GPS reciver at 100UKP and the software at 60UKP and the joint bundle at perhaps 150UKP, giving the customer the choice according to their needs, then it would fly off the shelves and represent good value for money to each type of purchaser.

Unfortunately they choose not to, which is why the crackers are already working on it... Some foreign versions are already available and it won't be too long before a UK version is circulating freely... TomTom is going to lose money hand over fist, just as they did previously... when will they learn!

The above is all IMHO etc., obviously...

Sp00k...

Footnote: June 6th... The Symbian version has already reached the 'Net... The Smartphone version is not far behind, so I'm told... Too late TomTom, you've blown it yet again!

Edited June 8, 2005 by Sp00k

[Guest mcwarre]

sp00k, well said =D> =D> =D>