A NASA Satellite
The most impressive feature of the Tom Tom GPS is found in its simplicity of use. This is why it has sped past many other GPS brands in South Africa. A person who is trying the GPS for the first time is not interested in being stuck in the middle of nowhere trying to figure why his GPS won’t function properly. This will never happen with the Tom Tom.
Who Is Tom Tom?
Tom Tom is a company whose main manufacturing operations started in Denmark in 1991. Like most GPS units, they were focused primarily on auto GPS navigation and then branched out to mobile devices. It’s well known in Europe and was using mapping software like Citymaps and EnRoute in the early 1990s.
The Tom Tom Navigator was launched in 2002 and it was bundled with PDA, Windows, and the Tom Tom GPS receiver. The response was electric and prompted Tom Tom to come up with an improved version in 2003.
In brief, their GPS has always been well-received and consumers quickly developed a loyalty to the company.
Tom Tom in South Africa
As recent as March 2011, Tom Tom managed to find a gaping hole in the GPS market in South Africa, and worked to come up with a solution. South Africa did not have online traffic reports, and so the company came up with a convenient GPS solution known as HD Traffic. This service is a true example of how responsive Tom Tom GPS has been to the technological growth of South Africa: one needs to have a browser to access the service.
It still has some kinks it has to iron out because it loses signal in some areas, but compared to not having online traffic reports, it’s certainly a blessing in disguise. You also find out if there’s been an accident and how to avoid the area with an alternate route instead of getting stuck in a gridlock.
The Tom Tom Strategy
In a GPS device, the primary concerns are accuracy and speed of data delivery. Without these, it’s not going to work and make anyone want to keep using the device. This is how Tom Tom GPS manages to keep its position as a leader in the GPS industry in South Africa. Aside from these two factors, Tom Tom also addresses the needs of people looking for GPS. Here are the choices:
Tom Tom Navigator:
• NavCore which is the Tom Tom Navigator for the Palm OS
• Mobile
• Go with Bluetooth
• Rider and ONE for motor bikers
• ONE
• Plus
• Business Solutions which provides vehicle tracking, 2-way communication and navigation services
With Tom Tom, there is also a wide range of prices from low end GPS devices, bundled with mobile phone brands, and the high solutions for those who are constantly on the move. Two years ago, the company launched the Tom Tom Start, Tom Tom XXL, and the Tom Tom GO 750 for the South African market. Some of the features include hands-free, large screen, and customization capabilities. Upon even the most superficial investigation, it becomes clear why Tom Tom is a consistent industry leader in Europe and now in South Africa.