TomTom aim to provide the most up-to-date maps in the world by enlisting the help of its users worldwide. Map Share allows TomTom customers to make improvements to their map instantly on their TomTom GPS system. Once verified by TomTom moderators, these updates are made available to the entire Map Share community, ensuring TomTom customers always have access to the most up-to-date maps.

“From the beginning, we envisioned Map Share as a tool to help drivers contend with the frustration of unexpected road changes, and to be used between map updates. To put this five million milestone in perspective, a one-hour trip made anywhere in Europe or North America will be influenced by twenty to thirty Map Share corrections. The success of Map Share is also due to the fact that the improvements made are those that customers really care about, and that the community has taken the time to report and share these corrections.” said Corinne Vigreux, managing director, TomTom.

The significance of this milestone is also reinforced by comparing the number of Map Share updates with the 15,000 reports received by Tele Atlas per month from users of its online map reporting system, Map Insight.

Map Share facts:

• hundreds of thousands of street names have been added
• almost one million roads that were incorrectly blocked (or open) are now included or excluded from TomTom routes
• Map Share users in the UK, US and Germany make the most improvements

Steven New, a delivery driver from Northumberland, is the most regular and active user of TomTom Map Share in the UK. He commented:

With roads constantly changing, Map Share has become invaluable to my driving for work, which involves around 700 miles per week. It has helped to improve the efficiency of my hectic delivery schedule considerably. Where a road name or speed limit has changed, for example, I am able to correct this immediately and benefit from it during my daily and weekly routine. I’m also able to download the thousands of improvements made by other users, and share my Map Share changes with the rest of the TomTom community, so I am also helping other TomTom customers.

TomTom’s complete map package, which includes high quality maps pre-installed on all products, TomTom’s latest map guarantee, the TomTom Map Update Service™ and Map Share, allows TomTom to provide customers with the most up-to-date and reliable maps in the industry.

Map Share corrections are available to TomTom customers via TomTom HOME software, which comes as standard with all TomTom devices.

Firstly, (after you set your start point and destination),you chose the day and time you would like to leave. If it is within the next 30 minutes, you can check the ‘Minimise traffic delays’ box and TomTom will adapt your route to take into account current traffic conditions. Even advanced planned routes should be more accurate with this route planner however, as the system uses TomTom’s IQ Routes. This innovation from the GPS masters, uses the day and time of departure to generate the fastest route based on kegacy traffic information.

Alongside these new additions, the route planner has the classic options – for instance you can view the map, route summary, or full driving directions. You can also set ‘Home location’ and ‘Last destination’, share the mapview and more.

I’m sure people will find quirks and problems just has they have so famously done with Google Maps before now, but try as we might, we just couldn’t trick the system. I’m impressed and will definitely be using it again soon.

This should give much more efficient routes, and accurate time estimates for journeys than the current online planners on offer. Map Share amendments will aslso be uploaded every day, making sure that the maps are as up-to-the-minute as possible. You can sign up to try the closed Beta test version now, but TomTom Route Planner will be available for everyone to use for free, regardless of whether or not they have a TomTom GPS unit soon enough.

For the TomTom ONE v.4 UK, you receive £20 by following this link, and entering code AWONEUK20 at the checkout.

For the TomTom XL V2 UK, you can receive £20 off your order by following this link and using AWXLUK20 at the checkout.

The newest TeleAtlas release includes more than 50,000 user changes. The maps will be available for your GPS system this month. Since MapShare began 18 months ago, over 4 million user changes have been submitted to TomTom, which purchased Tele Atlas in June. Only 50,000 of these changes have been incorporated into TeleAtlas maps, because the company focused on street name and road direction changes initially. The program will now be expanded to include other map attributes.

“Russia has one of the fastest growing consumer electronic markets (CET) and is widely recognised by the automotive industry that it’s set to quickly become the largest car market in Europe. Offering our fully localised PND products in Russia is a logical step and at the same time of integral importance to TomTom’s business strategy and future growth.” says Corinne Vigreux, TomTom’s managing director.

Products will be sold through various distributors and retailers across Moscow and St Petersburg and will be available from the end of November 2008. The recommended retail price starts from RUB 7990 for the TomTom ONE and RUB 16990 for the TomTom GO 930. From mid November, the new Russian TomTom website on www.tomtom.com will be live, featuring extensive information about products and services available in Russia.

This new service is not to be confused with TomTom’s MapShare service, which includes user corrections to roads. These updates will continue to be free to those with a compatible device. The new Map Update Service, however, will cost £7.95 per quarter (or more depending on your device and maps you require) and only features corrections and additions that have been verified by Teleatlas.

This new service does not affect TomTom’s promise to provide new users with updated maps for free if they are released within 30days of purchase.