The donation of TomTom devices to equip PMC emergency response vehicles is an extension of TomTom’s ongoing commitment to the PMC. For four years, TomTom has contributed to the challenge, both with a team of riders and through employee fundraising efforts. TomTom applauds the PMC’s continued successes in contributing to the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute and hopes to participate in the PMC for years to come.

The much publicised take over of global digital mapmakers, Tele Atlas was seen as a shrewd purchase by TomTom. Since Tele Atlas is one of only two digital mappers, the takeover allows TomTom greater control of costs and licensing opportunities.

TomTom is also profiting by enabling consumer personalisation of their devices, through custom map and “celebrity voice” addons. They are also leading the market with innovations including TomTom LIVE, a system of real-time traffic updates and route re-calculations. They have also formed partnerships to allow for web-based information services to direct you to the nearest take-away, Chinese restaurant or newsagent and intuitive applications to calculate and direct you to the cheapest fuel outlets.

With a sound strategic business model, philosophy and programme of innovation TomTom remains a prudent long-term investment. One hidden group of winners along with the shareholders are the charities supported by Pieter Geelen. A Dutch magazine recently named him as one of the most generous philanthropists in the Netherlands having given away an estimated €132m to good causes and more recently through The Turing Foundation. The primary aims of the Foundation revolve around an eclectic mix of causes; leprosy, education, nature conservation and art are all close to Pieter Geelen’s heart with each area operating independently and having its own individual goals, budgets and strategy. The foundation was awarded the official Charity status by the Dutch fiscal authority in 2006.

The GO 740 LIVE is TomTom’s first connected portable navigation device in the U.S. Features include: real-time traffic information, TomTom Fuel Price Service, Local Search powered by Google, TomTom Weather, QuickGPSfix and TomTom Buddies.

“The honors and accolades bestowed upon TomTom at CES 2009 underscore our strategy of delivering easy-to-use, innovative devices that provide the best core navigation products on the market,” said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. “We are honored by this recognition of the GO 740 LIVE and are proud to add it to our list of award-winning products and features.”

LAPTOP Magazine’s top editors choose the most innovative and exciting products in their respective technology categories as their “Best of CES” winners. They recognized the TomTom GO 740 LIVE as the groundbreaking GPS device due to its innovative performance and features that heighten the user experience.

CNET’s expert editors also recognized the TomTom GO 740 LIVE as their “Best of CES” winner in the GPS category. The GO 740 LIVE was chosen for its unmatched innovation and creativity, and its ability to excite consumers and help them explore a world gone digital. CNET editors reviewed hundreds of entries, as well as scoured the 2009 International CES show floor for products to consider for the award.

“Each year at the show, CNET editors scour the show floor to determine the top technologies that will set the trends for the coming year,” said Scott Ard, vice president of content at CNET. “Chosen from hundreds of products at the 2009 International CES, TomTom demonstrates the innovation and creativity to be awarded our ‘Best of CES’ award within the GPS industry.”

Vodafone’s plan to buy Wayfinder “could mean that TomTom and Vodafone will look to approach each other further in the area of navigation services for mobile phones,” Wing-Yen Choi, an Amsterdam-based analyst at Theodoor Gilissen, said, adding that this could enhance revenue.

Choi, who has a “buy” recommendation on TomTom shares, said the technology sector in general is doing well today, after being “punished harshly.”

TomTom and Vodafone work together in countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal to collect and distribute traffic information for users.  Tele Atlas, the maker of digital maps that was bought by TomTom this year, cooperates with Wayfinder.

While sales of devices using global position system technology for cars is projected to double in the United States this year, sales of navigation devices for trucks and of navigation software for handheld computers has been slower than anticipated, said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc.

In related news, digital map provider and TomTom subsidiary Tele Atlas has named Charles Cautley its new senior vice president of operations. Cautley is responsible for all data sourcing, database production, program planning, and product management functions. He reports directly to Tele Atlas CEO Bill Henry, according to the company.

This year it was tougher than ever with the nominations drawn from over 600 products released in the last year with the usual suspects not even getting a look in on some of the categories.

TomTom regained its control with a win over Navman in the Sat Nav category.

“Technology is still being bought and sold if it answers a real need and we believe that’s what we do,” said Vigreux at the launch of the Go 940 LIVE. “We announced our results yesterday and we’re still alive and kicking – the margins are still there.”

Here’s a summary of the company’s published financial results for the 3rd quarter:
For the first three quarters of this year, TomTom’s total PND shipments reached 7.6 million units, the company revealed. TomTom’s third quarter results saw revenue of €429m, with a gross profit of €240m. However, the company have lowered their shipment target for 2008. They adjusted the outlook for 2008 to 12-13 million units from its previous projection of 14-15 million units as demand for navigation solutions has grown at a slower pace than expected, according to the company. So what they are saying is, it hasn’t slowed, it just hasn’t grown as fast as expected this year due to the financial crisis. This is a global change as TomTom now expects the PND markets in Europe and North America to each grow to 18 million units this year, compared to 20 million units expected previously.

For the third quarter of this year TomTom estimated that the Sat Nav device market in Europe grew more than 15% from the previous year to approximately 4.2 million units, and the North American market grew by close to 100% to 3.1 million units.

TomTom shipped 2.53 million Personal Navigation Device (PND) products in the third quarter, down 18% sequentially but up 17% on year. This means that TomTom continue to hold a leading market share in Europe of around 45% and a North American market share of over 20%. Gross margin grew to 47% in the third quarter from 42% in the previous quarter, whereas ASPs (average selling prices) improved to 136 euro (US$180) from the previous quarter’s 131 euro.

The Pocket-lint awards are the longest running gadget awards in the UK with just 12 categories in total including the coveted Best Product of the Year 2008. The awards are voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists, who will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, and the winners list is set to be the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gifts this Christmas.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Thursday 6 November. We’ll let you know how TomTom does.