14 DAY TRIAL // TomTom, one of the world's largest navigation solution provider, and Vodafone Netherlands will jointly develop and introduce a breakthrough technology that revolutionizes the way people plan their daily journeys.
TomTom's patented technology will convert anonymous, raw GSM signaling data - supplied by Vodafone Netherlands' network - into accurate, real-time, information on the speed and direction of cars traveling throughout the road network of the Netherlands. The technology has been tested and proven on a regional scale and this will be the world's first nationwide, commercial deployment.
This revolutionary technology competes with traditional ways of collecting traffic information like induction loops and cameras. It provides a much more accurate, faster and more detailed picture of the actual travel times than current solutions. The total investments are a fraction of the current, road side equipment based solutions.
The information will initially be available to TomTom subscribers exclusively. The Travel Time Information will be distributed using Vodafone's GPRS Network in the Netherlands. All current and future TomTom users will be able to benefit from the service once it is available.
Basically, benefits of the new traffic services will include: - Easy round the clock traffic data covering virtually all roads; - Smart and simple information gathered from Vodafone's mobile network; - Accurate journey times instead of traffic jam queues only; timely notification of reliable time of arrival; - Real time traffic information that is never more than three minutes old; - Reliable information that is not dependent on road or weather conditions; - All traffic information is gathered anonymously.
The solution will be made available for consumers but also for road authorities and businesses, who may use it for dynamic traffic control measures and improved fleet management.