14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone carrier AT&T and leading provider of navigation solutions and digital maps TomTom announced on Monday an agreement through which TomTom XL 340S LIVE will receive wireless connectivity on the operator's network. The XL 340S LIVE is the mid-range portable navigation device that comes to the market with the Local Search feature enabled by Google, real-time traffic information and TomTom Fuel Price Service, the first of its kind, TomTom notes.
According to Glenn Lurie, president of emerging devices for AT&T, the agreement is seen by the wireless operator as a great step in its road towards expanding the use of its wireless network. “This agreement pairs our expansive wireless network with an advanced and yet easy-to-use device to deliver timely and powerful services to people on the go,” Lurie stated. AT&T will deliver to users the real-time connectivity they need when accessing the information important to them, the TomTom agreement being only an example in this direction.
The two companies stated that TomTom XL 340S LIVE would need access to AT&T's network when it comes to a series of services it delivered, such as Local Search powered by Google, the real-time traffic information it displayed, TomTom's Fuel Price service, or TomTom Weather, as well as other more. All of these services are already pre-loaded on the TomTom XL 340S LIVE and should work right out-of-the-box. The device is expected to become available for purchase through various retailers around the United States, the company added.
“TomTom is committed to delivering real-time information to drivers whenever they need it, so they can quickly search online for points of interest, route around traffic, find the best fuel prices or access the latest weather reports. Backed by the strength of AT&T’s network, we’re giving drivers the very best foundation on which to enjoy a range of useful, real-time services,” said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom, Inc. At the same time, Vigreux also said that in the future the two companies would extend their partnership towards more advanced connected features.