The Dutch navigation systems market is under the spot light as it is orbited by rumors that Microsoft has expressed an interest in one of its local representatives. The TomTom company, a local producer of portable navigation devices for automobiles and mapping applications for portable computers has denied that Microsoft is interested in acquiring it. Nonetheless, its shares rose 7.2 percent, catalyzed by the rumors.

"That's news to me. I haven't heard about it," said TomTom Chief Operating Officer Alexander Ribbink, when asked if he was aware of Microsoft's interest in his company.

Artificial as the stock growth may be, TomTom's shares closed at 32.41 euros, and the volume of shares traded in the company also saw an increase, to more than 1.3 million shares in the past month, as the Dutch producer takes full advantage of the market rumors.

TomTom has forecast sales from 1.1 billion to 1.3 billion euros in 2006, from the vending of navigation devices. The Dutch company is market leader in Europe, which is the world's largest market for navigation devices and mapping software, followed in the distance by the US. The applications produced by TomTom run both on Linux and Microsoft platforms. Microsoft too is a producer of automotive-grade solutions and may regard acquiring TomTom in order to access its solidified market audience.