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TomTom International BV is a Netherlands-based maker of navigation systems for automobiles, motorcycles, personal digital assistants, and mobile phones.
History
In 1991, Peter-Frans Pauwels and Pieter Geelen, having both just graduated from the University of Amsterdam, started the company Palmtop to develop applications for the first generation of hand held computers. At that time, most of the applications were for business use, but with the success of the Psion series, it became clear that individuals also had need of personal organizers. The company started commercial development of applications, including various dictionaries, personal finance products, games and route planners.
These applications brought worldwide sales which made it possible to add Corinne Vigreux to the team in 1994. The hand held market expanded rapidly, especially after the success of the Palm Pilot in 1996, and the rise of the first Microsoft OS based devices. Palmtop developed applications for all these devices.
In 2001, Harold Goddijn, ex-CEO of Psion, became the fourth full partner, and changed the company's name to TomTom. TomTom launched the first mobile car navigation system, TomTom Navigator.
TomTom Navigator 2 came on the market in spring of 2003. TomTom persuaded Mark Gretton, ex-CTO of Psion to head a hardware team to develop an all new navigation product. Alexander Ribbink, ex-Vice President of Brand Development at Mars Incorporated, came to TomTom in November 2003 to drive marketing of the growing range of products. TomTom Go, a standalone in-car navigation system, was brought out in spring of 2004. In the autumn, the company announced TomTom Mobile, a new navigation solution which run a car navigation system on a smartphone.
TomTom went public on May 27, 2005. The shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol TOM2. The company raised approximately 125 million Euros at its IPO. Tomtom joined the AEX index as of March 2, 2006.
Products and services
TomTom offers three types of products:
- TomTom GO and ONE – various portable models for automobile navigation
- TomTom RIDER – portable model for motorcycle and motorscooter users.
- TomTom NAVIGATOR – software for users of PDAs and Pocket PCs
- TomTom Mobile – software for mobile phones
TomTom units provide a flying interface with a bird's-eye view of the road, as well as a direct-overhead map view. They use a GPS receiver to show your precise location, and provide visual and spoken directions on how to drive to your chosen destination Certain TomTom systems also integrate with mobile phones using Bluetooth, to show traffic congestion maps or to actually take calls and read aloud SMS messages. The company offers a line of fee-based services under the name, TomTom PLUS, which include services to warn drivers about speed cameras, provide weather updates, change voices and provide traffic alerts.
External links
- Official site
- OpenTom wiki style information site
- Pocket GPS World's TomTom Forum
- "wiki"-style Point of Interest system to warn of out of date areas or mistakes on TomTom maps
- Installing Safety Camera databases on TomTom devices
- Customizing your TomTom boot screen with your own art work
| AEX companies of the Netherlands |
| ABN AMRO • AEGON • Ahold • Akzo Nobel • ASML • Buhrmann • DSM • Fortis • Getronics • Hagemeyer • Heineken • ING Group • KPN • Numico • Philips • Reed Elsevier • Royal Dutch Shell • SBM Offshore • TomTom • TNT • Unilever • Vedior • VNU • Wolters Kluwer |
Categories: Wikipedia articles needing style editing | Articles which may be biased | Companies of the Netherlands | Navigation system companies
