14 DAY TRIAL // For most drivers, receiving updated, real-time traffic information has become almost as important as following navigation maps, because, after all, what's the point of going in a certain direction if the road ahead is blocked? And this is exactly the reason why the TomTom company has come up with the TomTom ONE XL High Definition Traffic navigator, a device that combines smart navigation software with what TomTom calls the world's most advanced traffic information system (the HD Traffic service), so that the drivers can be better informed, avoid unnecessary delays and plan their daily journeys more efficiently, especially since TomTom integrates this high definition traffic information seamlessly into destination planning.
Thus, TomTom's new High Definition Traffic service monitors the entire main road network, which covers all highways and the vast majority of the secondary (N) roads. In addition, the traffic data is refreshed every three minutes, providing drivers with up to five times more traffic updates compared to traditional traffic solutions. This allows users to easily plan the smartest route to their destination, knowing in advance when to leave and at what time they will arrive.
The new service from TomTom works by collecting data through two major channels: the traffic data generated by the movement patterns of mobile phones in cars, via Vodafone's Dutch GSM network (which is the basis of the system), but also third party information provided by traffic authorities and road operators. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, via the Vodafone network, a live connection with the TomTom HD Traffic centre delivers traffic data to the TomTom XL HD Traffic every three minutes, in order to keep the driver constantly updated on the state of the road ahead.
The navigator itself (TomTom ONE XL HD Traffic) is not that different (at least from the point of view of the external looks) from other similar devices from the same family. It features a highly sensitive GPS receiver, as well as a 4.3-inch full TFT colour LCD touch screen (480 x 272 pixels, 64.000 colors), 1 GB of internal memory, a SD slot for adding supplementary maps, as well as an internal Li-Ion battery. Furthermore, in order to support the link to the Vodafone network, the PND also incorporates a GPRS modem with a built-in SIM card.
"With the knowledge about the actual road situation provided by TomTom HD Traffic, TomTom users will feel in control again. Congestion has become part of our lives, unfortunately, creating a clear need for better traffic information," says Harold Goddijn, chief executive officer of TomTom. "We cannot solve the problem of traffic jams and do not promise customers they will never be stuck in a traffic jam again. However, the new TomTom ONE XL High Definition Traffic allows users to easily plan the smartest route to their destination and to better be informed about real time delays. This way our users can make the right route choices at the right time - knowing that when they take an alternative route, it's actually better."
The new TomTom ONE XL HD Traffic will hit the shelves (for now, only in Netherlands) later on this month and will retail for somewhere around 400 Euro (590 US dollars), while the High Definition Traffic will draw another 10 Euro per month from the customer's bank account.
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