It may no longer be necessary to use a GPS navigation device if you have an Apple iPhone 3G or 3GS. On Monday, GPS heavyweight TomTom said its new $99 turn-by-turn app, TomTom for the iPhone, is now available on Apple's App Store.
The company said the app uses a new IQ Routes technology that uses the experiences of other TomTom drivers to determine the quickest route instead of relying on travel time. This technology can make trips quicker 35 percent of the time, TomTom said.
Like a standard GPS device, the app will suggest alternate routes as needed, such as when a turn is missed. The iPhone's screen can be tapped to zoom in and out, and the app will not only provide directions to a restaurant, but let you call ahead for a reservation.
TomTom for the iPhone also lets users pick a contact from the iPhone and get travel directions that can be viewed horizontally or vertically in nighttime or daytime mode. It comes with full maps of the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and voice navigation in 18 languages.
The company plans to sell a kit to attach the iPhone to a car windshield or dashboard. It comes with a GPS antenna, speakers and hands-free calling features.
The app requires iPhone OS 3.0 and TomTom is working on compatibility with early iPhones and the iPod touch.
Some alternatives to TomTom are available on the App Store, including Navigator from AT&T and Google Maps. The AT&T service costs $9.99 a month while Google Maps is free, but both stop working if a data connection is lost.
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