TomTom Halves Subscription Price for Real-Time HD Traffic Service

TomTom said it expanded its real-time HD Traffic service to all Live models in its U.S. lineup as part of an effort to extend its “traffic manifesto” worldwide. HD Traffic launched in the U.S. with the GO 2535 M Live navigation unit last month, and this week the company slashed annual subscription for the service from $119.95 to $59.95.

According to the company, HD Traffic provides “the most accurate traffic solution” by reporting and capturing more actual traffic jams than previously possible. It said HD Traffic is the only service that recognizes traffic conditions for both major and secondary roads in the U.S. road network to help re-route drivers away from traffic. Real-time updates are delivered every two minutes, and the HD Traffic feature can cut travel times by up to 15 percent, according to TomTom President Tim Roper. Live navigation models also include local search, fuel prices and weather forecasts.

TomTom calls its manifesto, begun in Europe last year, “a working solution to reduce traffic congestion on a large scale.” As part of the effort, the company is offering its portfolio of real-time traffic products for the U.S. market to its hardware, wireless, enterprise and government market customers so they can deliver solutions “based on the most accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date traffic information.” According to Maarten van Gool, managing director of TomTom Licensing, the company’s products can act as stand-alone traffic monitoring and reporting systems for partners or can be incorporated into their navigation solutions or routing tools to help better manage traffic. The real-time traffic portfolio includes Enterprise Traffic, which provides precise locations and delays caused by congestion on the road network, allowing routing programs to provide the fastest route based on actual current travel times; HD Flow, which delivers a real-time, detailed view of traffic speeds on the entire road network and is designed for integration into traffic management systems or for calculating current routing travel times; and HD Route Times, a turnkey solution providing “highly accurate real-time travel and delay times” for a specific route either on a temporary basis or for permanent solutions, TomTom said.

The company’s real-time traffic products are available to industry partners in 13 other countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. Additional countries will become available to partners during 2011, TomTom said.